CP symmetry ($CP$)

The combined operation of charge conjugation and parity symmetry in quantum field theory. A weak interaction can preserve this symmetry while violating each constituent separately.

The vector current is odd and the axial current is even under charge conjugation. Under parity symmetry in quantum field theory, the first is a vector and the second a pseudovector. Thus their difference obeys $j_L^{\mu }(x)\mapsto -P^{\mu }{}_{\nu }{j}_L^{\nu }(x_P)$ under CP, with $P=\mathrm{diag}(1,-1,-1,-1)$. If a neutral vector has $V^{\mu }(x)\mapsto \xi P^{\mu }{}_{\nu }{V}^{\nu }(x_P)$ under CP, the interaction transforms by the factor $-\xi$. It is invariant for $\xi =-1$. Being a real field restricts its intrinsic phases but does not alone fix this sign. The conventional C-odd neutral gauge-vector assignment makes real diagonal Z boson vector and axial couplings CP invariant, despite their separate C and P violations.

In a convention where the CP operation squares to one on the relevant bosonic state space, a CP eigenstate has eigenvalue $+1$ or $-1$. If the Hamiltonian commutes with CP, its nondegenerate eigenstates can also be CP eigenstates. In the neutral-kaon convention $CP|K^0⟩=-|{\bar{K}}^0⟩$, the antisymmetric flavor combination is CP even and the symmetric one CP odd. Rephasing flavor states changes the written combinations, not the invariant content.