Quark-lepton symmetry and complementarity

We argue that the difference between the observed approximate quark-lepton complementarity and the theoretical prediction based on realistic quark-lepton symmetry within the seesaw mechanism may be adjusted by means of a triplet contribution in the seesaw formula.Comment: 7 pages, RevTex

Causality in Time-Neutral Cosmologies

Gell-Mann and Hartle (GMH) have recently considered time-neutral cosmological models in which the initial and final conditions are independently specified, and several authors have investigated experimental tests of such models. We point out here that GMH time-neutral models can allow superluminal signalling, in the sense that it can be possible for observers in those cosmologies, by detecting and exploiting regularities in the final state, to construct devices which send and receive signals between space-like separated points. In suitable cosmologies, any single superluminal message can be transmitted with probability arbitrarily close to one by the use of redundant signals. However, the outcome probabilities of quantum measurements generally depend on precisely which past {\it and future} measurements take place. As the transmission of any signal relies on quantum measurements, its transmission probability is similarly context-dependent. As a result, the standard superluminal signalling paradoxes do not apply. Despite their unusual features, the models are internally consistent. These results illustrate an interesting conceptual point. The standard view of Minkowski causality is not an absolutely indispensable part of the mathematical formalism of relativistic quantum theory. It is contingent on the empirical observation that naturally occurring ensembles can be naturally pre-selected but not post-selected.Comment: 5 pages, RevTeX. Published version -- minor typos correcte

Fermion Mass Hierarchy in Lifshitz Type Gauge Theory

We study the origin of fermion mass hierarchy and flavor mixing in a Lifshitz type extension of the standard model including an extra scalar field. We show that the hierarchical structure can originate from renormalizable interactions. In contrast to the Froggatt-Nielsen mechanism, the higher the dimension of associated operators, the heavier the fermion masses. Tiny masses for left-handed neutrinos are obtained without introducing right-handed neutrinos.Comment: 13 pages; clarifications of some point

Quantum spacetime and the renormalization group: Progress and visions

The quest for a consistent theory which describes the quantum microstructure of spacetime seems to require some departure from the paradigms that have been followed in the construction of quantum theories for the other fundamental interactions. In this contribution we briefly review two approaches to quantum gravity, namely, asymptotically safe quantum gravity and tensor models, based on different theoretical assumptions. Nevertheless, the main goal is to find a universal continuum limit for such theories and we explain how coarse-graining techniques should be adapted to each case. Finally, we argue that although seemingly different, such approaches might be just two sides of the same coin.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures, Proceedings of "Progress and Visions in Quantum Theory in View of Gravity: Bridging foundations of physics and mathematics", Leipzig, 201

The Invisible Axion and Neutrino Masses

We show that in any invisible axion model due to the effects of effective non-renormalizable interactions related to an energy scale near the Peccei-Quinn, grand unification or even the Planck scale, active neutrinos necessarily acquire masses in the sub-eV range. Moreover, if sterile neutrinos are also included and if appropriate cyclic $Z_N$ symmetries are imposed, it is possible that some of these neutrinos are heavy while others are light.Comment: An example included and new references added. To appear in PR

Thermal leptogenesis in brane world cosmology

The thermal leptogenesis in brane world cosmology is studied. In brane world cosmology, the expansion law is modified from the four-dimensional standard cosmological one at high temperature regime in the early universe. As a result, the well-known upper bound on the lightest light neutrino mass induced by the condition for the out-of-equilibrium decay of the lightest heavy neutrino, $\tilde{m}_1 \lesssim 10^{-3}$ eV, can be moderated to be $\tilde{m}_1 \lesssim 10^{-3} {eV} \times (M_1/T_t)^2$ in the case of $T_t \leq M_1$ with the lightest heavy neutrino mass ($M_1$) and the ``transition temperature'' ($T_t$), at which the modified expansion law in brane world cosmology is smoothly connecting with the standard one. This implies that the degenerate mass spectrum of the light neutrinos can be consistent with the thermal leptogenesis scenario. Furthermore, as recently pointed out, the gravitino problem in supersymmetric case can be solved if the transition temperature is low enough $T_t \lesssim 10^{6-7}$ GeV. Therefore, even in the supersymmetric case, thermal leptogenesis scenario can be successfully realized in brane world cosmology.Comment: 9 pages, final versio

String-Inspired Triplet See-Saw from Diagonal Embedding of SU(2)_L in SU(2)_A x SU(2)_B

Motivated by string constructions, we consider a variant on the Type II see-saw mechanism involving the exchange of triplet representations of SU(2)_L in which this group arises from a diagonal embedding into SU(2)_A x SU(2)_B. A natural assignment of Standard Model lepton doublets to the two underlying gauge groups results in a bimaximal pattern of neutrino mixings and an inverted hierarchy in masses. Simple perturbations around this leading-order structure can accommodate the observed pattern of neutrino masses and mixings.Comment: 8 pages; uses RevTe

Implications of finite one-loop corrections for seesaw neutrino masses

In the standard seesaw model, finite corrections to the neutrino mass matrix arise from one-loop self-energy diagrams mediated by a heavy neutrino. We discuss the impact that these corrections may have on the different low-energy neutrino observables paying special attention to their dependence with the seesaw model parameters. It is shown that sizable deviations from the tri-bimaximal mixing pattern can be obtained when these corrections are taken into account.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. Prepared for the proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Topics in Astroparticle and Underground Physics (TAUP 2011), Munich, Germany, 5-9 September 201

Quasiclassical Coarse Graining and Thermodynamic Entropy

Our everyday descriptions of the universe are highly coarse-grained, following only a tiny fraction of the variables necessary for a perfectly fine-grained description. Coarse graining in classical physics is made natural by our limited powers of observation and computation. But in the modern quantum mechanics of closed systems, some measure of coarse graining is inescapable because there are no non-trivial, probabilistic, fine-grained descriptions. This essay explores the consequences of that fact. Quantum theory allows for various coarse-grained descriptions some of which are mutually incompatible. For most purposes, however, we are interested in the small subset of ``quasiclassical descriptions'' defined by ranges of values of averages over small volumes of densities of conserved quantities such as energy and momentum and approximately conserved quantities such as baryon number. The near-conservation of these quasiclassical quantities results in approximate decoherence, predictability, and local equilibrium, leading to closed sets of equations of motion. In any description, information is sacrificed through the coarse graining that yields decoherence and gives rise to probabilities for histories. In quasiclassical descriptions, further information is sacrificed in exhibiting the emergent regularities summarized by classical equations of motion. An appropriate entropy measures the loss of information. For a ``quasiclassical realm'' this is connected with the usual thermodynamic entropy as obtained from statistical mechanics. It was low for the initial state of our universe and has been increasing since.Comment: 17 pages, 0 figures, revtex4, Dedicated to Rafael Sorkin on his 60th birthday, minor correction

Reconciliation of CDM abundance and μ→eγ\mu\to e\gamma in a radiative seesaw model

We reexamine relic abundance of a singlet fermion as a CDM candidate, which contributes to the neutrino mass generation through radiative seesaw mechanism. We search solutions for Yukawa couplings and the mass spectrum of relevant fields to explain neutrino oscillation data. For such solutions, we show that an abundance of a lightest singlet fermion can be consistent with WMAP data without conflicting with both bounds of $\mu\to e\gamma$ and $\tau\to \mu\gamma$. This reconciliation does not need any modification of the original radiative seesaw model other than by specifying flavor structure of Yukawa couplings and taking account of coannihilation effects.Comment: 16 pages, 2 figures, accepted version for publication