Tri-Bimaximal Neutrino Mixing, A4 and the Modular Symmetry

We formulate and discuss a 4-dimensional SUSY version of an A4 model for tri-bimaximal neutrino mixing which is completely natural. We also study the next-to-the-leading corrections and show that they are small, once the ratios of A4 breaking VEVs to the cutoff are fixed in a specified interval. We also point out an interesting way of presenting the A4 group starting from the modular group. In this approach, which could be interesting in itself as an indication on a possible origin of A4, the lagrangian basis where the symmetry is formulated coincides with the basis where the charged leptons are diagonal. If the same classification structure in A4 is extended from leptons to quarks, the CKM matrix coincides with the unit matrix in leading order and a study of non leading corrections shows that the departures from unity of the CKM matrix are far too small to accomodate the observed mixing angles.Comment: 21 pages, 1 figure; added section on a see-saw realization; version to appear on Nucl. Phys.

Trimaximal neutrino mixing from vacuum alignment in A4 and S4 models

Recent T2K results indicate a sizeable reactor angle theta_13 which would rule out exact tri-bimaximal lepton mixing. We study the vacuum alignment of the Altarelli-Feruglio A4 family symmetry model including additional flavons in the 1' and 1" representations and show that it leads to trimaximal mixing in which the second column of the lepton mixing matrix consists of the column vector (1,1,1)^T/sqrt{3}, with a potentially large reactor angle. In order to limit the reactor angle and control the higher order corrections, we propose a renormalisable S4 model in which the 1' and 1" flavons of A4 are unified into a doublet of S4 which is spontaneously broken to A4 by a flavon which enters the neutrino sector at higher order. We study the vacuum alignment in the S4 model and show that it predicts accurate trimaximal mixing with approximate tri-bimaximal mixing, leading to a new mixing sum rule testable in future neutrino experiments. Both A4 and S4 models preserve form dominance and hence predict zero leptogenesis, up to renormalisation group corrections.Comment: 24 pages, 2 figures, version to be published in JHE

Three-Higgs-doublet model under A4 symmetry implies alignment

A model with three scalar doublets can be conveniently accommodated within an A4 symmetric framework. The A4 symmetry permits only a restricted form for the scalar potential. We show that for the global minima of this potential alignment follows as a natural consequence. We also verify that in every case positivity and unitarity constraints are satisfactorily met.Comment: 17 pages, v2: References added, some changes in text, to appear in JHE

Modelling tri-bimaximal neutrino mixing

We model tri-bimaximal lepton mixing from first principles in a way that avoids the problem of the vacuum alignment characteristic of such models. This is achieved by using a softly broken A4 symmetry realized with an isotriplet fermion, also triplet under A4. No scalar A4-triplet is introduced. This represents one possible realization of general schemes characterized by the minimal set of either three or five physical parameters. In the three parameter versions mee vanishes, while in the five parameter schemes the absolute scale of neutrino mass, although not predicted, is related to the two Majorana phases. The model realization we discuss is potentially testable at the LHC through the peculiar leptonic decay patterns of the fermionic and scalar triplets.Comment: some changing, reference adde

Foundation Year RTS Part 3 Portfolio Template Summary: Science and Engineering 2012-13

Part 3 Routes to Success summary of the portfolio template on one A4 pag

A4-based see-saw model for realistic neutrino masses and mixing

We present an $A4$-based model where neutrino masses arise from a combination of see-saw mechanisms. The model is motivated by several small mixing and mass parameters indicated by the data. These are $\theta_{13}$, the solar mass splitting, and the small deviation of $\theta_{23}$ from maximal mixing (= $\pi/4$). We take the above as indications that at some level the small quantities are well-approximated by zero. In particular the mixing angles, to a zero order, should be either 0 or $\pi/4$. Accordingly, in this model the Type-II see-saw dominates and generates the larger atmospheric mass splitting and sets $\theta_{23} = \pi/4$. The other mixing angles are vanishing as is the solar splitting. We show how the $A4$ assignment for the lepton doublets leads to this form. We also specify the $A4$ properties of the right-handed neutrinos which result in a smaller Type-I see-saw contribution that acts as a perturbation and shifts the angles $\theta_{12}$ and $\theta_{13}$ into the correct range and the desired value of $\Delta m^2_{solar}$ is produced. The $A4$ symmetry results in relationships between these quantities as well as with a small deviation of $\theta_{23}$ from $\pi/4$. If the right-handed neutrino mass matrix, $M_R$, is chosen real then there is no leptonic CP-violation and only Normal Ordering is admissible. If $M_R$ is complex then Inverted Ordering is also allowed with the proviso that the CP-phase, $\delta$, is large, i.e., $\sim \pi/2$ or $-\pi/2$. The preliminary results from NO$\nu$A favouring Normal Ordering and $\delta$ near $-\pi/2$ imply quasi-degenerate neutrino masses in this model.Comment: v2: 23 pages, 3 figures, Appendix on scalar potential minimization added, Matches with the published versio

Manifold structures for sets of solutions of the general relativistic constraint equations

We construct manifold structures on various sets of solutions of the general relativistic initial data sets.Comment: latex2e, 32 A4 pages, minor correction