A Highly Predictive Ansatz for Leptonic Mixing and CP Violation

We suggest a simple highly predictive ansatz for charged lepton and light neutrino mass matrices, based on the assumption of universality of Yukawa couplings. Using as input the charged lepton masses and light neutrino masses, the six parameters characterizing the leptonic mixing matrix $V_{PMNS}$, are predicted in terms of a single phase $\phi$, which takes a value around $\phi={\frac{\pi}{2}}$. Correlations among variuos physical quantities are obtained, in particular $V^{PMNS}_{13}$ is predicted as a function of ${\Delta}m^2_{21}$, ${\Delta}m^2_{31}$ and $\sin^2(\theta_{sol})$, and restricted to the range $0.167<|V^{PMNS}_{13}|<0.179$.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

Jarlskog-like invariants for theories with scalars and fermions

Within the framework of theories where both scalars and fermions are present, we develop a systematic prescription for the construction of CP-violating quantities that are invariant under basis transformations of those matter fields. In theories with Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking, the analysis involves the vevs' transformation properties under a scalar basis change, with a considerable simplification of the study of CP violation in the scalar sector. These techniques are then applied in detail to the two Higgs-doublet model with quarks. It is shown that there are new invariants involving scalar-fermion interactions, besides those already derived in previous analyses for the fermion-gauge and scalar-gauge sectors.Comment: 12 pages, Latex, no figure

Vacuum Induced CP Violation Generating a Complex CKM Matrix with Controlled Scalar FCNC

We propose a viable minimal model with spontaneous CP violation in the framework of a Two Higgs Doublet Model. The model is based on a generalised Branco-Grimus-Lavoura model with a flavoured $\mathbb{Z}_2$ symmetry, under which two of the quark families are even and the third one is odd. The lagrangian respects CP invariance, but the vacuum has a CP violating phase, which is able to generate a complex CKM matrix, with the rephasing invariant strength of CP violation compatible with experiment. The question of scalar mediated flavour changing neutral couplings is carefully studied. In particular we point out a deep connection between the generation of a complex CKM matrix from a vacuum phase and the appearance of scalar FCNC. The scalar sector is presented in detail, showing that the new scalars are necessarily lighter than 1 TeV. A complete analysis of the model including the most relevant constraints is performed, showing that it is viable and that it has definite implications for the observation of New Physics signals in, for example, flavour changing Higgs decays or the discovery of the new scalars at the LHC. We give special emphasis to processes like $t\to {\rm h} c,{\rm h} u$, as well as ${\rm h}\to bs, bd$, which are relevant for the LHC and the ILC.Comment: 36 pages, 11 figure

Spontaneous CP Violation in the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model Revisited

We re-examine spontaneous CP violation at the tree level in the context of the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model (NMSSM) with two Higgs doublets and a gauge singlet field. We analyse the most general Higgs potential without a discrete Z_3 symmetry, and derive an upper bound on the mass of the lightest neutral Higgs boson consistent with present experimental data. We investigate, in particular, its dependence on the admixture and CP-violating phase of the gauge singlet field, as well as on tan(beta). To assess the viability of the spontaneous CP violation scenario, we estimate epsilon_K by applying the mass insertion approximation. We find that a non-trivial flavour structure in the soft-breaking A terms is required to account for the observed CP violation in the neutral kaon sector. Furthermore, combining the minimisation conditions for spontaneous CP violation with the constraints coming from K0-K0bar mixing, we find that the upper bound on the lightest Higgs-boson mass becomes stronger. We also point out that the electric dipole moments of electron and neutron are a serious challenge for SUSY models with spontaneous CP violation.Comment: 19 pages, LaTeX2e, 5 figures; matches the published versio

Leptonic Invariants, Neutrino Mass-Ordering and the Octant of θ23\theta_{23}

We point out that leptonic weak-basis invariants are an important tool for the study of the properties of lepton flavour models. In particular, we show that appropriately chosen invariants can give a clear indication of whether a particular lepton flavour model favours normal or inverted hierarchy for neutrino masses and what is the octant of $\theta_{23}$. These invariants can be evaluated in any conveniently chosen weak-basis and can also be expressed in terms of neutrino masses, charged lepton masses, mixing angles and CP violation phases.Comment: 10 pages, no figure

Small violations of unitarity, the phase in Bs mixing and visible t->cZ decays at the LHC

We show that it is possible to accommodate the observed size of the phase in $B^0_s$--$\bar B^0_s$, mixing in the framework of a model with violation of $3\times 3$ unitarity. This violation is associated to the presence of a new $Q=2/3$ isosinglet quark $T$, which mixes both with $t$ and $c$ and has a mass not exceeding 500 GeV. The crucial point is the fact that this framework allows for $\chi\equiv\arg(-V_{ts}V_{cb}V_{tb}^*V_{cs}^*)$ of order $\lambda$, to be contrasted with the situation in the Standard Model, where $\chi$ is constrained to be of order $\lambda^2$. We point out that this scenario implies rare top decays $t\to cZ$ at a rate observable at the LHC and $|V_{tb}|$ significantly different from unity. In this framework, one may also account for the observed size of $D^0$--$\bar D^0$ mixing without having to invoke long distance contributions. It is also shown that in the present scenario, the observed size of $D^0$--$\bar D^0$ mixing constrains $\chi^\prime\equiv\arg(-V_{cd}V_{us}V_{cs}^*V_{ud}^*)$ to be of order $\lambda^4$, which is significantly smaller than what is allowed in generic models with violations of $3\times 3$ unitarity.Comment: 20 pages. References added. Additional observables considered, updated numerical examples, conclusions unchange

Non-Factorizable Phases, Yukawa Textures and the Size of sin (2 beta)

We emphasize the crucial r\^ ole played by non-factorizable phases in the analysis of the Yukawa flavour structure performed in weak bases with Hermitian mass matrices and with vanishing $(1,1)$ entries. We show that non-factorizable phases are important in order to generate a sufficiently large $\sin 2 \beta$. A method is suggested to reconstruct the flavour structure of Yukawa couplings from input experimental data both in this Hermitian basis and in a non-Hermitian basis with a maximal number of texture zeros. The corresponding Froggatt--Nielsen patterns are presented in both cases.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figure