Simple and discrete: a unified model of fermionic mass and mixing

by Jim Talbert (DESY)

Thursday 15 Feb 2018, 16:00 → 17:00 Europe/Amsterdam

H331 (Nikhef)

Non-Abelian discrete symmetries are frequently used to explain observed patterns of neutrino mass and mixing. However, they can also be employed in unified constructions where the flavour structures of both quarks and leptons are realized. In this talk I will briefly motivate the use of discrete symmetries of flavour before turning to a pedagogical discussion of their implementation in effective theories. I will then present a simple model based on the \Delta(27) finite group that is consistent with a stage of Grand Unification and which implements a `universal texture zero' in the mass matrices of all fermions, including heavy right-handed Majorana neutrinos driving a Type-I see-saw mechanism. The model, upon considering the continuation of flavour observables to the UV, realizes extremely successful predictions for the mass, mixing, and CP violation of all Standard Model fermions. To conclude, I will give some thoughts on the progress and future of discrete models of flavour.