Symmetries for the 4HDM. II. Extensions by rephasing groups

Abstract: We continue classification of finite groups which can be used as symmetry group of the scalar sector of the four-Higgs-doublet model (4HDM). Our objective is to systematically construct non-abelian groups via the group extension procedure, starting from the abelian groups $A$ and their automorphism groups $\mathrm{Aut}(A)$. Previously, we considered all cyclic groups $A$ available for the 4HDM scalar sector. Here, we further develop the method and apply it to extensions by the remaining rephasing groups $A$, namely $A = \mathbb{Z_2}\times\mathbb{Z_2}$, $\mathbb{Z_4}\times \mathbb{Z_2}$, and $\mathbb{Z_2}\times \mathbb{Z_2}\times \mathbb{Z_2}$. As $\mathrm{Aut}(A)$ grows, the procedure becomes more laborious, but we prove an isomorphism theorem which helps classify all the options. We also comment on what remains to be done to complete the classification of all finite non-abelian groups realizable in the 4HDM scalar sector without accidental continuous symmetries.