arXiv subjects

Gustavo C. Branco

Publications and source records attributed to Gustavo C. Branco.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Neutrino Theory in the Precision Era

This document summarises discussions on future directions in theoretical neutrino physics, which are the outcome of a neutrino theory workshop held at CERN in February 2025. The starting point is the realisation that neutrino physics offers unique opportunities to address some of the most fundamental questions in physics. This motivates a vigorous experimental programme which the theory community fully supports. \textbf{A strong effort in theoretical neutrino physics is paramount to optimally take advantage of upcoming neutrino experiments and to explore the synergies with other areas of particle, astroparticle, and nuclear physics, as well as cosmology.} Progress on the theory side has the potential to significantly boost the physics reach of experiments, as well as go well beyond their original scope. Strong collaboration between theory and experiment is essential in the precision era. To foster such collaboration, \textbf{we propose to establish a CERN Neutrino Physics Centre.} Taking inspiration from the highly successful LHC Physics Center at Fermilab, the CERN Neutrino Physics Centre would be the European hub of the neutrino community, covering experimental and theoretical activities.

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arXiv2023

Unitarity Relations in the Presence of Vector-Like Quarks

We study, in a systematic way, the $V_{\text{CKM}}$ unitarity relations which arise in extensions of the three generations Standard Model (3gSM) involving the addition of vector-like quarks (VLQ). In particular, we emphasize the effect of the presence of VLQ on $V_{\text{CKM}}$ moduli differences, as well on the size of the imaginary parts of rephasing invariant $V_{\text{CKM}}$ quartets. We consider the special case where an up-type VLQ is used to attempt at solving the unitarity problem in the first line of $V_{\text{CKM}}$.

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arXiv2021

The framework for a common origin of $δ_{\rm CKM}$ and $δ_{\rm PMNS}$

We analyse a possible connection between CP violations in the quark and lepton sectors, parametrised by the CKM and PMNS phases. If one assumes that CP breaking arises from complex Yukawa couplings, both in the quark and lepton sectors, the above connection is not possible in general, since Yukawa couplings in the two sectors have independent flavour structures. We show that both the CKM and PMNS phases can instead be generated by a vacuum phase in a class of two Higgs doublet models, and in this case a connection may be established. This scenario requires the presence of scalar FCNC at tree level, both in the quark and lepton sectors. The appearance of these FCNC is an obstacle and a blessing. An obstacle since one has to analyse which models are able to conform to the strict experimental limits on FCNC, both in the quark and lepton sectors. A blessing, because this class of models is falsifiable since FCNC arise at a level which can be probed experimentally in the near future, specially in the processes $h\to e^\pmτ^\mp$ and $t\to h c$. The connection between CP violations in CKM and PMNS is explicitely illustrated in models with Minimal Flavour Violation.

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arXiv2020

Crossed two Higgs-doublet models: reduction of Yukawa parameters in the low-scale limit of left-right symmetry and other avatars

We present new variants of the Two Higgs-Doublet Model where all Yukawa couplings with physical Higgs bosons are controlled by the quark mixing matrices of both chiralities, as well as, in one case, the ratio between the two scalar doublets' vacuum expectation values. We obtain these by imposing approximate symmetries on the Lagrangian which, in one of the cases, clearly reveals the model to be the electroweak remnant of the Minimal Left-Right Symmetric Model. We also argue for the benefits of the bidoublet notation in the Two Higgs-Doublet Model context for uncovering new models.

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arXiv2020

Extending Trinity to the Scalar Sector through Discrete Flavoured Symmetries

We conjecture the existence of a relation between elementary scalars and fermions, making it plausible the existence of three Higgs doublets. We introduce a Trinity Principle (TP) which, given the fact that there are no massless quarks, requires the existence of a minimum of three Higgs doublets. The TP states that each line of the mass matrix of a quark of a given charge should receive the contribution from one and only one scalar doublet and furthermore a given scalar doublet should contribute to one and only one line of the mass matrix of a quark of a given charge. This principle is analogous to the Natural Flavour Conservation (NFC) of Glashow and Weinberg with the key distinction that NFC required the introduction of a flavour blind symmetry, while the TP requires a flavoured symmetry, to be implemented in a natural way. We provide two examples which satisfy the Trinity Principle based on $\mathbb{Z}_3$ and $\mathbb{Z}_2\times\mathbb{Z}_2'$ flavoured symmetries, and show that they are the minimal multi-Higgs extensions of the Standard Model where CP can be imposed as a symmetry of the full Lagrangian and broken by the vacuum, without requiring soft-breaking terms. We show that the vacuum phases are sufficient to generate a complex CKM matrix, in agreement with experiment. The above mentioned flavoured symmetries lead to a strong reduction in the number of parameters in the Yukawa interactions, enabling a control of the Scalar Flavour Changing Neutral Couplings (SFCNC). We analyse some of the other physical implications of the two models, including an estimate of the enhancement of the Baryon Asymmetry of the Universe provided by the new sources of CP violation, and a discussion of the the strength of their tree-level SFCNC.

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arXiv2018

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.

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arXiv2018

Symmetry Constrained Two Higgs Doublet Models

We study Two-Higgs-Doublet Models (2HDM) where Abelian symmetries have been introduced, leading to a drastic reduction in the number of free parameters in the 2HDM. Our analysis is inspired in BGL models, where, as the result of a symmetry of the Lagrangian, there are tree-level scalar mediated Flavour-Changing-Neutral-Currents, with the flavour structure depending only on the CKM matrix. A systematic analysis is done on the various possible schemes, which are classified in different classes, depending on the way the extra symmetries constrain the matrices of couplings defining the flavour structure of the scalar mediated neutral currents. All the resulting flavour textures of the Yukawa couplings are stable under renormalisation since they result from symmetries imposed at the Lagrangian level. We also present a brief phenomenological analysis of the most salient features of each class of symmetry constrained 2HDM.

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arXiv2017

Singlet Heavy Fermions as the Origin of B Anomalies in Flavour Changing Neutral Currents

We show that a simple extension of the Standard Model involving the introduction of vector-like quarks and heavy neutrinos, provides an explanation of the so called B-anomalies in $b\to s\ell\bar\ell$ transitions. Vector-like quarks can explain, in the context of a discrete flavour symmetry, all the relevant characteristics of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa sector. It is in this framework that we study the requirements on the masses of the vector like quarks and the heavy neutrinos leading to viable models with sufficient deviations of lepton flavour universality and which simultaneously avoid too large Flavour Changing Neutral Current effects. Related predictions on $b\to d\ell\bar\ell$ and $s\to d\ell\bar\ell$ transitions are also analysed in detail.

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arXiv2017

Controlled Flavour Changing Neutral Couplings in Two Higgs Doublet Models

We propose a class of Two Higgs Doublet Models where there are Flavour Changing Neutral Currents (FCNC) at tree level, but under control due to the introduction of a discrete symmetry in the full Lagrangian. It is shown that in this class of models, one can have simultaneously FCNC in the up and down sectors, in contrast to the situation encountered in BGL models. The intensity of FCNC is analysed and it is shown that in this class of models one can respect all the strong constraints from experiment without unnatural fine-tuning. It is pointed out that the additional sources of flavour and CP violation are such that they can enhance significantly the generation of the Baryon Asymmetry of the Universe, with respect to the Standard Model.

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arXiv2015

Invariant approach to CP in unbroken $Δ(27)$

The invariant approach is a powerful method for studying CP violation for specific Lagrangians. The method is particularly useful for dealing with discrete family symmetries. We focus on the CP properties of unbroken $Δ(27)$ invariant Lagrangians with Yukawa-like terms, which proves to be a rich framework, with distinct aspects of CP, making it an ideal group to investigate with the invariant approach. We classify Lagrangians depending on the number of fields transforming as irreducible triplet representations of $Δ(27)$. For each case, we construct CP-odd weak basis invariants and use them to discuss the respective CP properties. We find that CP violation is sensitive to the number and type of $Δ(27)$ representations.

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arXiv2015

Invariant approach to CP in family symmetry models

We propose the use of basis invariants, valid for any choice of CP transformation, as a powerful approach to studying specific models of CP violation in the presence of discrete family symmetries. We illustrate the virtues of this approach for examples based on $A_4$ and $Δ(27)$ family symmetries. For $A_4$, we show how to elegantly obtain several known results in the literature. In $Δ(27)$ we use the invariant approach to identify how explicit (rather than spontaneous) CP violation arises, which is geometrical in nature, i.e. persisting for arbitrary couplings in the Lagrangian.

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arXiv2009

Leptogenesis and Low-energy Observables

We address the question of how to establish a connection between leptogenesis and low energy observables. We emphasize that such a connection only exists in the framework of flavour models. A particular example is the case of texture zeros in some of the Yukawa couplings.

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arXiv2008

Building the full PMNS Matrix from six independent Majorana-type phases

In the framework of three light Majorana neutrinos, we show how to reconstruct, through the use of 3 x 3 unitarity, the full PMNS matrix from six independent Majorana-type phases. In particular, we express the strength of Dirac-type CP violation in terms of these Majorana-type phases by writing the area of the unitarity triangles in terms of these phases. We also study how these six Majorana phases appear in CP-odd weak basis invariants as well as in leptonic asymmetries relevant for flavoured leptogenesis.

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arXiv2008

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 $χ\equiv\arg(-V_{ts}V_{cb}V_{tb}^*V_{cs}^*)$ of order $λ$, to be contrasted with the situation in the Standard Model, where $χ$ is constrained to be of order $λ^2$. 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 $χ^\prime\equiv\arg(-V_{cd}V_{us}V_{cs}^*V_{ud}^*)$ to be of order $λ^4$, which is significantly smaller than what is allowed in generic models with violations of $3\times 3$ unitarity.

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arXiv2008

Universal Doublet-Singlet Higgs Couplings and phenomenology at the CERN Large Hadron Collider

We consider a minimal extension of the standard model where a real, gauge singlet scalar field is added to the standard spectrum. Introducing the Ansatz of universality of scalar couplings, we are led to a scenario which has a set of very distinctive and testable predictions: (i) the mixing between the standard model Higgs and the new state is near maximal, (ii) the ratio of the two Higgs mass eigenstates is fixed ($\sim \sqrt{3}$), (iii) the decay modes of each of the two eigenstates are standard model like. We also study how electroweak precision tests constrain this scenario. We predict the lighter Higgs to lie in the range of 114 and 145 GeV, and hence the heavier one between 198 and 250 GeV. The predictions of the model can be tested at the upcoming LHC.

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arXiv2008

Four Zero Neutrino Yukawa Textures in the Minimal Seesaw Framework

We investigate, within the Type I seesaw framework, the physical implications of zero textures in the Yukawa couplings which generate the neutrino Dirac mass matrix $m_D$. It is shown that four is the maximal number of texture zeroes compatible with the observed leptonic mixing and the assumption that no neutrino mass vanishes. We classify all allowed four-zero textures of $m_D$ into two categories with three classes each. We show that the different classes, in general, admit CP violation both at low and high energies. We further present the constraints obtained for low energy physics in each case. The r\^ ole of these zero textures in establishing a connection between leptogenesis and low energy data is analysed in detail. It is shown that it is possible in all cases to completely specify the parameters relevant for leptogenesis in terms of light neutrino masses and leptonic mixing together with the unknown heavy neutrino masses.

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arXiv2008

CP Violation and Flavour Mixings in Orbifold GUTs

We address the flavour problem by incorporating the hypothesis of universal strength of Yukawa couplings in the framework of a 5D GUT model compactified on an $S^1/(Z_2 \times Z_2^{\prime})$ orbifold. We show that a quantitatively successful picture of fermion masses and mixings emerges from the interplay between the bulk suppression factors of geometric origin and the phases of the Yukawa matrices. We give an explicit example, where we obtain a good fit for both the CKM and PMNS matrices.

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arXiv2007

Another Look at Minimal Lepton Flavour Violation, l_i -> l_j gamma, Leptogenesis, and the Ratio M_nu/ Lambda_LFV

We analyze lepton flavour violation (LFV), as well as generation of the observed baryon-antibaryon asymmetry of the Universe (BAU) within a generalized minimal lepton flavour violation (MLFV) framework where we allow for CP violation both at low and high energies. The generation of BAU is obtained through radiative resonant leptogenesis (RRL), where starting with three exactly degenerate right-handed neutrinos at Lambda_GUT, we demonstrate explicitly within the SM and the MSSM that the splittings between their masses at the see-saw scale M_nu, generated by renormalization group effects, are sufficient for a successful leptogenesis for M_nu even as low as 10^6 GeV. The inclusion of flavour effects plays an important role in this result and can lead to the observed BAU even in the absence of CP violation beyond the PMNS phases. The absence of a stringent lower bound on M_nu in this type of leptogenesis allows to easily satisfy present and near future upper bounds on mu -> e gamma and other charged lepton flavour violating (LFV) processes even for Lambda_LFV = O(1 TeV). We find, that the MLFV framework in the presence of heavy right-handed neutrinos and leptogenesis is not as predictive as MFV in the quark sector and point out that without a specific MLFV model, there is a rich spectrum of possibilities for charged LFV processes and for their correlation with low energy neutrino physics and the LHC physics, even if the constraint from the observed BAU is taken into account. While certain qualitative features of our analysis confirm findings of Cirigliano et al., at the quantitative level we find phenomenologically important differences. We explain the origin of these differences.

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