Zero minors of the neutrino mass matrix

We examine the possibility that a certain class of neutrino mass matrices, namely those with two independent vanishing minors in the flavor basis, regardless of being invertible or not, is sufficient to describe current data. We compute generic formulae for the ratios of the neutrino masses and for the Majorana phases. We find that seven textures with two vanishing minors can accommodate the experimental data. We present an estimate of the mass matrix for these patterns. All the possible textures can be dynamically generated through the seesaw mechanism augmented with a discrete Abelian symmetry.Comment: latex, 22 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables, accepted version to appear in PR

High-Precision Numerical Determination of Eigenvalues for a Double-Well Potential Related to the Zinn-Justin Conjecture

A numerical method of high precision is used to calculate the energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions for a symmetric double-well potential. The method is based on enclosing the system within two infinite walls with a large but finite separation and developing a power series solution for the Schr$\ddot{o}$dinger equation. The obtained numerical results are compared with those obtained on the basis of the Zinn-Justin conjecture and found to be in an excellent agreement.Comment: Substantial changes including the title and the content of the paper 8 pages, 2 figures, 3 table

One vanishing minor in the neutrino mass matrix

We study a specific texture of the neutrino mass matrix, namely the models with one $2\times 2$ subdeterminant equal to zero. We carry out a complete phenomenological analysis with all possible relevant correlations. Every pattern of the six possible ones is found able to accommodate the experimental data, with three cases allowing also for non-invertible mass matrices. We present symmetry realizations for all the models.Comment: 21 pages, 11 figures, 4 table