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Christoph Luhn

Publications and source records attributed to Christoph Luhn.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2017

Spontaneous CP violation in multi-Higgs potentials with triplets of $Δ(3n^2)$ and $Δ(6n^2)$

Motivated by discrete flavour symmetry models, we analyse Spontaneous CP Violation (SCPV) for potentials involving three or six Higgs fields (both electroweak doublets and singlets) which fall into irreducible triplet representations of discrete symmetries belonging to the $Δ(3n^2)$ and $Δ(6n^2)$ series, including $A_4$, $S_4$, $Δ(27)$ and $Δ(54)$. For each case, we give the potential and find various global mimima for different regions of the parameter space of the potential. Using CP-odd basis Invariants that indicate the presence of Spontaneous CP Violation we separate the VEVs into those that do or do not violate CP. In cases where CP is preserved we reveal a CP symmetry of the potential that is preserved by those VEVs, otherwise we display a non-zero CP-odd Invariant. Finally we identify interesting cases where there is Spontaneous Geometrical CP Violation in which the VEVs have calculable phases.

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arXiv2017

Minima of multi-Higgs potentials with triplets of $Δ(3n^2)$ and $Δ(6n^2)$

We analyse the minima of scalar potentials for multi-Higgs models where the scalars are arranged as either one triplet or two triplets of the discrete symmetries $A_4$, $S_4$, $Δ(27)$, $Δ(54)$, as well as $Δ(3n^2)$ and $Δ(6n^2)$ with $n>3$. The results should be useful for both multi-Higgs models involving electroweak doublets and multi-flavon models involving electroweak singlets, where in both cases the fields transform as triplets under some non-Abelian discrete symmetry.

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arXiv2016

CP-odd invariants for multi-Higgs models: applications with discrete symmetry

CP-odd invariants provide a basis independent way of studying the CP properties of Lagrangians. We propose powerful methods for constructing basis invariants and determining whether they are CP-odd or CP-even, then systematically construct all of the simplest CP-odd invariants up to a given order, finding many new ones. The CP-odd invariants are valid for general potentials when expressed in a standard form. We then apply our results to scalar potentials involving three (or six) Higgs fields which form irreducible triplets under a discrete symmetry, including invariants for both explicit as well as spontaneous CP violation. The considered cases include one triplet of Standard Model (SM) gauge singlet scalars, one triplet of SM Higgs doublets, two triplets of SM singlets, and two triplets of SM Higgs doublets. For each case we study the potential symmetric under one of the simplest discrete symmetries with irreducible triplet representations, namely $A_4$, $S_4$, $Δ(27)$ or $Δ(54)$, as well as the infinite classes of discrete symmetries $Δ(3n^2)$ or $Δ(6n^2)$.

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arXiv2016

Littlest Seesaw model from S4 x U(1)

We show how a minimal (littlest) seesaw model involving two right-handed neutrinos and a very constrained Dirac mass matrix, with one texture zero and two independent Dirac masses, may arise from $S_4\times U(1)$ symmetry in a semi-direct supersymmetric model. The resulting CSD3 form of neutrino mass matrix only depends on two real mass parameters plus one undetermined phase. We show how the phase may be fixed to be one of the cube roots of unity by extending the $S_4\times U(1)$ symmetry to include a product of $Z_3$ factors together with a CP symmetry, which is spontaneously broken leaving a single residual $Z_3$ in the charged lepton sector and a residual $Z_2$ in the neutrino sector, with suppressed higher order corrections. With the phase chosen from the cube roots of unity to be $-2π/3$, the model predicts a normal neutrino mass hierarchy with $m_1=0$, reactor angle $θ_{13}=8.7^\circ$, solar angle $θ_{12}=34^\circ$, atmospheric angle $θ_{23}=44^\circ$, and CP violating oscillation phase $δ_{\rm CP}=-93^\circ$, depending on the fit of the model to the neutrino masses.

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arXiv2016

Lepton-flavour violation in a Pati-Salam model with gauged flavour symmetry

Combining Pati-Salam (PS) and flavour symmetries in a renormalisable setup, we devise a scenario which produces realistic masses for the charged leptons. Flavour-symmetry breaking scalar fields in the adjoint representations of the PS gauge group are responsible for generating different flavour structures for up- and down-type quarks as well as for leptons. The model is characterised by new heavy fermions which mix with the Standard Model quarks and leptons. In particular, the partners for the third fermion generation induce sizeable sources of flavour violation. Focusing on the charged-lepton sector, we scrutinise the model with respect to its implications for lepton-flavour violating processes such as $μ\rightarrow eγ$, $μ\rightarrow 3e$ and muon conversion in nuclei.

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arXiv2016

Phenomenological Implications of an SU(5) x S4 x U(1) SUSY GUT of Flavour

We discuss the characteristic low energy phenomenological implications of an SU(5) Supersymmetric Grand Unified Theory (SUSY GUT) whose flavour structure is controlled by the family symmetry S4 x U(1), which provides a good description of all quark and lepton masses, mixings as well as CP violation. Although the model closely mimics Minimal Flavour Violation (MFV) as shown in arXiv:1511.07886, here we focus on the differences. We first present numerical estimates of the low energy mass insertion parameters, including canonical normalisation and renormalisation group running, for well-defined ranges of SUSY parameters and compare the naive model expectations to the numerical scans and the experimental bounds. Our results are then used to estimate the model-specific predictions for Electric Dipole Moments (EDMs), Lepton Flavour Violation (LFV), B and K meson mixing as well as rare B decays. The largest observable deviations from MFV come from the LFV process mu --> e gamma and the electron EDM.

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arXiv2016

Neutrino Mass and Mixing with Discrete Symmetry

This is a review article about neutrino mass and mixing and flavour model building strategies based on discrete family symmetry. After a pedagogical introduction and overview of the whole of neutrino physics, we focus on the PMNS mixing matrix and the latest global fits following the Daya Bay and RENO experiments which measure the reactor angle. We then describe the simple bimaximal, tri-bimaximal and golden ratio patterns of lepton mixing and the deviations required for a non-zero reactor angle, with solar or atmospheric mixing sum rules resulting from charged lepton corrections or residual trimaximal mixing. The different types of see-saw mechanism are then reviewed as well as the sequential dominance mechanism. We then give a mini-review of finite group theory, which may be used as a discrete family symmetry broken by flavons either completely, or with different subgroups preserved in the neutrino and charged lepton sectors. These two approaches are then reviewed in detail in separate chapters including mechanisms for flavon vacuum alignment and different model building strategies that have been proposed to generate the reactor angle. We then briefly review grand unified theories (GUTs) and how they may be combined with discrete family symmetry to describe all quark and lepton masses and mixing. Finally we discuss three model examples which combine an SU(5) GUT with the discrete family symmetries A4, S4 and Delta(96).

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arXiv2016

Approaching Minimal Flavour Violation from an SU(5) x S4 x U(1) SUSY GUT

We show how approximate Minimal Flavour Violation (MFV) can emerge from an SU(5) Supersymmetric Grand Unified Theory (SUSY GUT) supplemented by an S4 x U(1) family symmetry, which provides a good description of all quark and lepton (including neutrino) masses, mixings and CP violation. Assuming a SUSY breaking mechanism which respects the family symmetry, we calculate in full explicit detail the low energy mass insertion parameters in the super-CKM basis, including the effects of canonical normalisation and renormalisation group running. We find that the very simple family symmetry S4 x U(1) is sufficient to approximately reproduce the effects of low energy MFV.

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arXiv2015

Combining Pati-Salam and Flavour Symmetries

We construct an extension of the Standard Model (SM) which is based on grand unification with Pati-Salam symmetry. The setup is supplemented with the idea of spontaneous flavour symmetry breaking which is mediated through flavon fields with renormalizable couplings to new heavy fermions. While we argue that the new gauge bosons in this approach can be sufficiently heavy to be irrelevant at low energies, the fermionic partners of the SM quarks, in particular those for the third generation, can be relatively light and provide new sources of flavour violation. The size of the effects is constrained by the observed values of the SM Yukawa matrices, but in a way that is different from the standard minimal-flavour violation approach. We determine characteristic deviations from the SM that could eventually be observed in future precision measurements.

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arXiv2014

Testing solar lepton mixing sum rules in neutrino oscillation experiments

Small discrete family symmetries such as S4, A4 or A5 may lead to simple leading-order predictions for the neutrino mixing matrix such as the bimaximal, tribimaximal or golden ratio mixing patterns, which may be brought into agreement with experimental data with the help of corrections from the charged-lepton sector. Such scenarios generally lead to relations among the parameters of the physical leptonic mixing matrix known as solar lepton mixing sum rules. In this article, we present a simple derivation of such solar sum rules, valid for arbitrary neutrino and charged lepton mixing angles and phases, assuming only θ13^ν = θ13^e = 0. We discuss four leading-order neutrino mixing matrices with θ13^ν = 0 which are well motivated from family symmetry considerations. We then perform a phenomenological analysis of the scope to test the resulting four solar sum rules, highlighting the complementarity between next-generation neutrino oscillation experiments such as the reactor experiment JUNO and a superbeam experiment.

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arXiv2014

Radiative Inflation and Dark Energy RIDEs Again after BICEP2

Following the ground-breaking measurement of the tensor-to-scalar ratio $r = 0.20^{+0.07}_{- 0.05}$ by the BICEP2 collaboration, we perform a statistical analysis of a model that combines Radiative Inflation with Dark Energy (RIDE) based on the $M^2 |Φ|^2 \ln \left(|Φ|^2/Λ^2 \right)$ potential and compare its predictions to those based on the traditional chaotic inflation $M^2|Φ|^2$ potential. We find a best-fit value in the RIDE model of $r=0.18$ as compared to $r=0.17$ in the chaotic model, with the spectral index being $n_S=0.96$ in both models.

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arXiv2014

Precision measurements of θ12 for testing models of discrete leptonic flavour symmetries

Models of leptonic flavour with discrete symmetries can provide an attractive explanation of the pattern of elements found in the leptonic mixing matrix. The next generation of neutrino oscillation experiments will allow the mixing parameters to be tested to a new level of precision, crucially measuring the CP violating phase δ for the first time. In this contribution, we present results of a systematic survey of the predictions of a class of models based on residual discrete symmetries and the prospects for excluding such models at medium- and long-term oscillation experiments. We place particular emphasis on the complementary role that a future circa 50 km reactor experiment, e.g. JUNO, can play in constraining these models.

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arXiv2014

Spontaneous CP violation from vacuum alignment in $S_4$ models of leptons

We construct models of leptons based on $S_4$ family symmetry combined with a generalised CP symmetry $H_{CP}$. We show how the flavon potential can spontaneously break the symmetry $S_4 \rtimes H_{CP}$ down to $Z_2 \times H^ν_{CP}$ in the neutrino sector, where the choice of preserved CP symmetry $H^ν_{CP}$ is controlled by free (real) parameters in the flavon potential. We propose two realistic models of this kind, one at the effective level and one at the renormalisable level. Both models predict trimaximal lepton mixing with CP being either fully preserved or maximally broken, with the intermediate possibility forbidden by the structure of the models.

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arXiv2013

Testing atmospheric mixing sum rules at precision neutrino facilities

We study the prospects for testing classes of atmospheric mixing sum rules at precision neutrino facilities. Such sum rules, which correlate the atmospheric mixing angle theta23 with the recently measured reactor angle theta13 and the cosine of the oscillation phase delta, are predicted by a variety of semi-direct models based on discrete family symmetry, classified in terms of finite von Dyck groups. We perform a detailed simulation of the performance of the next generation of oscillation experiments, including the wide band superbeam and low-energy neutrino factory proposals, and compare their discriminating power for testing atmospheric mixing sum rules.

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arXiv2013

Froggatt-Nielsen models with a residual Z_4^R symmetry

The Froggatt-Nielsen mechanism provides an elegant explanation for the hierarchies of fermion masses and mixings in terms of a U(1) symmetry. Promoting such a family symmetry to an R-symmetry, we explicitly construct supersymmetric Froggatt-Nielsen models which are gauged, family dependent U(1)_R completions of the Z_4^R symmetry proposed by Lee, Raby, Ratz, Ross, Schieren, Schmidt-Hoberg and Vaudrevange in 2010. Forbidden by Z_4^R, the mu-term is generated around the supersymmetry breaking scale m_3/2 from either the Kahler potential or the superpotential. Neutrinos acquire their mass via the type I seesaw mechanism with three right-handed neutrino superfields. Taking into account the Green-Schwarz anomaly cancellation conditions, we arrive at a total of 3 x 34 distinct phenomenologically viable charge assignments for the standard model fields, most of which feature highly fractional charges.

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arXiv2013

Trimaximal TM1 neutrino mixing in S4 with spontaneous CP violation

The measurement of the reactor angle by the Daya Bay and RENO experiments in 2012 has ruled out the tri-bimaximal paradigm. Adopting an S4 family symmetry, we propose direct models of the trimaximal type TM1 in which the tri-bimaximal Klein symmetry of the neutrino sector is broken to a residual Z2 symmetry. In such a scenario, the solar mixing angle is decreased compared to its tri-bimaximal value by about one degree, thus bringing it in excellent agreement with experimental observation. The atmospheric mixing angle, on the other hand, depends on the CP violating Dirac phase delta. Imposing CP conservation in the family symmetry limit, we show how to break the CP symmetry via flavon VEVs with well-defined complex phases, so that sizable deviations of the atmospheric angle from maximal mixing, consistent with the latest global fits, are produced.

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arXiv2012

A Grand Delta(96) x SU(5) Flavour Model

Recent results from the Daya Bay and RENO reactor experiments have measured the smallest lepton mixing angle and found it to have a value of theta_13 approximately 9 degrees. This result presents a new challenge for the existing paradigms of discrete flavour symmetries which attempt to describe all quark and lepton masses and mixing angles. Here we propose a Supersymmetric Grand Unified Theory of Flavour based on Delta(96) x SU(5), together with a U(1) x Z3 symmetry, including a full discussion of Delta(96) in a convenient basis. The Grand Delta(96) x SU(5) Flavour Model relates the quark mixing angles and masses in the form of the Gatto-Sartori-Tonin relation and realises the Georgi-Jarlskog mass relations between the charged leptons and down-type quarks. We predict a Bi-trimaximal (not Tri-bimaximal) form of neutrino mixing matrix, which, after including charged lepton corrections with zero phase, leads to the following GUT scale predictions for the atmospheric, solar, and reactor mixing angles: theta_23=36.9 degrees, theta_12=32.7 degrees and theta_13=9.6 degrees, in good agreement with recent global fits, and a zero Dirac CP phase delta~0.

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