The Cabibbo angle as a universal seed for quark and lepton mixings

A model-independent ansatz to describe lepton and quark mixing in a unified way is suggested based upon the Cabibbo angle. In our framework neutrinos mix in a ¿Bi-Large¿ fashion, while the charged leptons mix as the ¿down-type¿ quarks do. In addition to the standard Wolfenstein parameters (lambda, A) two other free parameters (psi, delta) are needed to specify the physical lepton mixing matrix. Through this simple assumption one makes specific predictions for the atmospheric angle as well as leptonic CP violation in good agreement with current observations

Stable fermion mass matrices and the charged lepton contribution to neutrino mixing

We study the general properties of hierarchical fermion mass matrices in which the small eigenvalues are stable with respect to perturbations of the matrix entries and we consider specific applications to the charged lepton contribution to neutrino mixing. In particular, we show that the latter can account for the whole lepton mixing. In this case a value of sin \u3b813 73 me/m\u3bcsin \u3b823 48 0.03, as observed, can be obtained without the need of any fine-tuning, and present data allow to determine the last row of the charged lepton mass matrix with good accuracy. We also consider the case in which the neutrino sector only provides a maximal 12 rotation and show that i) present data provide a 2\u3c3 evidence for a non-vanishing 31 entry of the charged lepton mass matrix and ii) a plausible texture for the latter can account at the same time for the atmospheric mixing angle, the \u3b813angle, and the deviation of the \u3b812angle from \u3c0/2 without fine-tuning or tension with data. Finally, we show that the so-called \u201cinverted order\u201d of the 12 and 23 rotations in the charged lepton sector can be obtained without fine-tuning, up to corrections of order me/m\u3bc. \ua9 2014, The Author(s)

Neutrino mixing matrices with relatively large θ13\theta_{13} and with texture one-zero

The recent T2K, MINOS and Double Chooz oscillation data hint a relatively large $\theta_{13}$, which can be accommodated by some general modification of the Tribimaximal/Bimaximal/Democratic mixing matrices. Using such matrices we analyze several Majorana mass matrices with texture one-zero and show whether they satisfy normal or inverted mass hierarchy and phenomenologically viable or not.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures, minor modification in the text, version to appear in EPJ

Predictions for the Leptonic Dirac CP Violation Phase: a Systematic Phenomenological Analysis

We derive predictions for the Dirac phase $\delta$ present in the $3\times 3$ unitary neutrino mixing matrix $U = U_e^{\dagger} \, U_{\nu}$, where $U_e$ and $U_{\nu}$ are $3\times 3$ unitary matrices which arise from the diagonalisation respectively of the charged lepton and the neutrino mass matrices. We consider forms of $U_e$ and $U_{\nu}$ allowing us to express $\delta$ as a function of three neutrino mixing angles, present in $U$, and the angles contained in $U_{\nu}$. We consider several forms of $U_{\nu}$ determined by, or associated with, symmetries, tri-bimaximal, bimaximal, etc., for which the angles in $U_{\nu}$ are fixed. For each of these forms and forms of $U_e$ allowing to reproduce the measured values of the neutrino mixing angles, we construct the likelihood function for $\cos \delta$, using i) the latest results of the global fit analysis of neutrino oscillation data, and ii) the prospective sensitivities on the neutrino mixing angles. Our results, in particular, confirm the conclusion reached in earlier similar studies that the measurement of the Dirac phase in the neutrino mixing matrix, together with an improvement of the precision on the mixing angles, can provide unique information about the possible existence of symmetry in the lepton sector

Generalised geometrical CP violation in a T' lepton flavour model

We analyse the interplay of generalised CP transformations and the non-Abelian discrete group T \u2032 and use the semi-direct product G f = T \u2032 caH CP, as family symmetry acting in the lepton sector. The family symmetry is shown to be spontaneously broken in a geometrical manner. In the resulting flavour model, naturally small Majorana neutrino masses for the light active neutrinos are obtained through the type I see-saw mechanism. The known masses of the charged leptons, lepton mixing angles and the two neutrino mass squared differences are reproduced by the model with a good accuracy. The model allows for two neutrino mass spectra with normal ordering (NO) and one with inverted ordering (IO). For each of the three spectra the absolute scale of neutrino masses is predicted with relatively small uncertainty. The value of the Dirac CP violation (CPV) phase \u3b4 in the lepton mixing matrix is predicted to be \u3b4 = \u3c0/2 or 3\u3c0/2. Thus, the CP violating effects in neutrino oscillations are predicted to be maximal (given the values of the neutrino mixing angles) and experimentally observable. We present also predictions for the sum of the neutrino masses, for the Majorana CPV phases and for the effective Majorana mass in neutrinoless double beta decay. The predictions of the model can be tested in a variety of ongoing and future planned neutrino experiments

Incorporation of silver and gold nanostructures for performance improvement in P3HT: PCBM inverted solar cell with rGO/ZnO nanocomposite as an electron transport layer

Inefficient light absorption and inefficient charge separation are considered as two major impediments for the efficiency improvement in bulk heterojunction organic solar cells (BHJ OSCs). In this work, we report the simultaneous role of modified electron transport layer (ETL) and photoactive layers on the performance of poly (3-hexylthiophene), [6, 6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT: PCBM) BHJ OSCs. To modify the ETL, composite of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) (0.4 wt %) and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) was used, which resulted in efficiency enhancement from 3.13 to 3.81%, as compared to a value of 3.13% when only ZnO was used. Thereafter, to improve upon the optical absorption properties, the photoactive layer is modified by embedding nanoparticles and nanorods of Ag and Au into it. The size of Ag and Au nanoparticles were chosen to be 50 nm while the dimensions of Ag and Au nanorods were so controlled to obtain length of approx. 50 nm and width of similar to 10 nm. All the devices were fabricated in inverted geometry and 20 wt% nanostructures embedded devices showed the best results. For Ag and Au NPs embedded devices, the, maximum power conversion efficiency was found to be 4.21% and 4.44%, respectively. On the other hand, for Ag and Au NRs embedded devices, the maximum efficiency was 437% and 4.85%, respectively. For comparison, the control devices where no nanostructures were embedded, which shows efficiency of 3.81%. Therefore, an overall enhancement in efficiency was nearly 1.21 and 1.1, 1.16, 1.14, 1.27 fold after modifying ETL as well as the active layer. The reasons for performance improvement were ascribed to better charge extraction properties of ETL, enhanced light absorption due to localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and efficient light scattering by the nanostructures and improved global mobilities. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Dual role of boron in improving electrical performance and device stability of low temperature solution processed ZnO thin film transistors

In this paper, we have demonstrated the dual role of boron doping in enhancing the device performance parameters as well as the device stability in low temperatures (200 degrees C) sol-gel processed ZnO thin film transistors (TFTs). Our studies suggest that boron is able to act as a carrier generator and oxygen vacancy suppressor simultaneously. Boron-doped ZnO TFTs with 8mol.% of boron concentration demonstrated field-effect mobility value of 1.2 cm(2) V-1 s(-1) and threshold voltage of 6.2 V, respectively. Further, these devices showed lower shift in threshold voltage during the hysteresis and bias stress measurements as compared to undoped ZnO TFTs. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC

Effects of incorporation of copper sulfide nanocrystals on the performance of P3HT: PCBM based inverted solar cells

It has been reported that performance of bulk heterojunction organic solar cells can be improved by incorporation of an additive like metal and semiconducting nanoparticles in the active layer. Here in, we have synthesized Cu2S nanocrystals (NCs) by chemical route and studied its dispersion in poly (3-hexylthiophene) [6, 6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT: PCBM) matrix. Variation in the performance parameters with change in the concentration of Cu2S NCs into the P3HT: PCBM matrix has also been studied and it was found that the inverted geometry device with concentration of 20 wt% of Cu2S NCs and having the structure ITO/ZnO (NPs)/P3HT: PCBM: Cu2S NCs/MoO3/Al has shown maximum efficiency of 3.39% which is more than 100% increase in comparison with devices without Cu2S NCs. Photoluminescence measurements studies unveiled that the incorporation of Cu2S NCs into a P3HT: PCBM matrix has helped in quenching photoluminescence which suggests more effective exciton dissociation at the interfaces between the P3HT and PCBM domains. The Nyquist plots obtained from impedance spectroscopy at 1 V bias in the dark has suggested the effective lifetime and global mobilities for P3HT: PCBM as 0.267 ms and 1.17 x 10(-3) cm(2)/V-S and for P3HT: PCBM: Cu2S NCs (20 wt%) systems as 0.156 ms and 2.02 x 10(-3) cm(2)/V-S respectively. Based on observed photoluminescence quenching, calculated effective lifetime and global mobility, we have tried to explain the possible reason for improvement in the efficiency with the very well dispersion of Cu2S NCs into the P3HT: PCBM matrix. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved