We show how quark and lepton mass hierarchies can be reproduced in the framework of modular symmetry. The mechanism is analogous to the Froggatt-Nielsen (FN) mechanism, but without requiring any Abelian symmetry to be introduced, nor any Standard Model (SM) singlet flavon to break it. The modular weights of fermion fields play the role of FN charges, and SM singlet fields with non-zero modular weight called weightons play the role of flavons. We illustrate the mechanism by analysing $A_4$ (modular level 3) models of quark and lepton (including neutrino) masses and mixing, with a single modulus field. We discuss two examples in some detail, both numerically and analytically, showing how both fermion mass and mixing hierarchies emerge from different aspects of the modular symmetry.
We propose models to explain the hierarchies of the quark masses and mixing by utilizing the $S_4^\prime$ modular flavor symmetry. The hierarchy is realized by the modulus $τ$ stabilized at $\mathrm{Im}\,τ\gg 1$, where the residual $Z_4^T$ symmetry is approximately unbroken and the Froggatt-Nielsen mechanism works. It is found that the quark hierarchies are realized only in a few cases of quark representations. We study two models with assigning the modular weights, so that the observed quark hierarchies are explained in the cases of both small and large ratios of the top to bottom Yukawa coup…
We explore a mechanism for generating the Yukawa hierarchies by displacing the left- and right-handed components of the Standard Model fermions in a higher-dimensional space. We find a unique configuration of displacements which fits all quark and lepton masses and mixing angles, with a prediction for the strange quark mass m_s = 120 MeV.
In models with low-energy supersymmetry breaking, an anomalous Abelian horizontal gauge symmetry can simultaneously explain the fermion mass hierarchy and the values of the $μ$ and $B$ terms. We construct an explicit model where the anomaly is cancelled by the Green-Schwarz mechanism at the string scale. We show that with our charge assignments, the breaking of the horizontal symmetry generates the correct order of magnitude and correct hierarchy for all Yukawa couplings.
The explanation of various observed phenomena such as large angle neutrino oscillations, hierarchies of charged fermion masses and CKM mixings, and apparent baryon number conservation may have a common origin. We show how this could occur in 5D SUSY SU(5) supplemented by a ${\cal U}(1)$ flavor symmetry and additional matter supermultiplets called 'copies'. In addition, the proton decays into $p\to Kν$, with an estimated lifetime of order $10^{33}-10^{36}$ yrs. Other decay channels include $Ke$ and $Kμ$ with comparable rates. We also expect that BR$(μ\to eγ)\sim $BR$(τ\to μγ)$.
The Standard Model of particle physics requires Yukawa matrices with eigenval- ues that differ by orders of magnitude. We propose a novel way to explain this fact without any small or large parameters. The mechanism is based on the observation that products of matrices of random order one-numbers have hierarchical spectra. The same mechanism can easily account for the hierarchical structure of the quark mixing matrix.
We construct a supersymmetric model based on $T'\otimes Z_3\otimes Z_9$ flavor symmetry. At the leading order, the charged lepton mass matrix is not diagonal, $T'$ is broken completely, and the hierarchy in the charged lepton masses is generated naturally. Nearly tri-bimaximal mixing is predicted, subleading effects induce corrections of order $λ^2$, where $λ$ is the Cabibbo angle. Both the up quark and down quark mass matrices textures of the well-known U(2) flavor theory are produced at the leading order, realistic hierarchies in quark masses and CKM matrix elements are obtained. The vacuum …
We present a model which contains three Abelian symmetries beyond the standard model. One is anomalous {\it \` a la} Green-Schwarz, and family-independent; the other two are family symmetries. All are broken at a large scale by stringy effects. The model is predictive in the neutrino sector: large mixing between $ν_μ-ν_τ$, and {\cal O}$(λ^3)$ $ν_e-ν_μ$ mixings. Its natural cut-off is the gauge unification scale, orders of magnitude below the perturbative string cut-off.
We investigate the problem of the fermion mass hierarchy in supergravity models with flat directions of the scalar potential associated with some gauge singlet moduli fields. The low-energy Yukawa couplings are nontrivial homogeneous functions of the moduli and a geometric constraint between them plays, in a large class of models, a crucial role in generating hierarchies. Explicit examples are given for no-scale type supergravity models. The Yukawa couplings are dynamical variables at low energy, to be determined by a minimization process which amounts to fixing ratios of the moduli fields. Th…
In this paper we study renormalization-group evolutions of Yukawa matrices enhanced by Kaluza-Klein excited modes and analyze their infrared fixed-point structure. We derive necessary conditions to obtain hierarchies between generations on the fixed point. These conditions restrict how the fields in the models can extend to higher dimension. Several specific mechanisms to realize the conditions are presented. We also take account of generation mixing effects and find a scenario where the mixing angles become small at low energy even with large initial values at high-energy scale. A toy model i…
After the Higgs boson discovery, it is established that the Higgs mechanism explains electroweak symmetry breaking and generates the masses of all particles in the Standard Model, with the possible exception of neutrino masses. The hierarchies among fermion masses and mixing angles remain however unexplained. We propose a new class of two Higgs doublet models in which a flavor symmetry broken at the electroweak scale addresses this problem. The models are strongly constrained by electroweak precision tests and the fact that they produce modifications to Higgs couplings and flavor changing neut…
We study modular symmetric quark flavor models without fine-tuning. Mass matrices are written in terms of modular forms, and modular forms in the vicinity of the modular fixed points become hierarchical depending on their residual charges. Thus modular symmetric flavor models in the vicinity of the modular fixed points have a possibility to describe mass hierarchies without fine-tuning. Since describing quark hierarchies without fine-tuning requires $Z_n$ residual symmetry with $n\geq 6$, we focus on $Γ_6$ modular symmetry in the vicinity of the cusp $τ=i\infty$ where $Z_6$ residual symmetry r…
Casimir forces from fermions in an extra dimension can stabilise Randall-Sundrum models. Contrary to previous expectations, the stabilisation can produce large electroweak hierarchies without fine tuning. The Casimir stabilisation occurs in the same five-dimensional fermion models which have been found to give the observed fermion mass hierarchies. This is shown for masses generated by the Higgs mechanism and by a Higgsless symmetry breaking mechanism, where new light Kaluza-Klein states are presented
We incorporate clockwork mechanism into the Standard Model flavour sector and show that the observed pattern of fermion masses and mixing can be obtained without any unnaturally small or large parameter in the fundamental theory. By introducing $N_f$ pairs of vectorlike fermions, as clockwork gears, for each generation of the Standard Model fermions and setting up a characteristic clockwork potential, it is shown that the inter-generational mass hierarchies are determined by $N_f$. For a given type of fermions, strong or mild hierarchy in the masses and mixing parameters can be obtained by tak…
We discuss fermion mass hierarchies within modular invariant flavour models. We analyse the neighbourhood of the self-dual point $τ=i$, where modular invariant theories possess a residual $Z_4$ invariance. In this region the breaking of $Z_4$ can be fully described by the spurion $ε\approx τ- i$, that flips its sign under $Z_4$. Degeneracies or vanishing eigenvalues of fermion mass matrices, forced by the $Z_4$ symmetry at $τ=i$, are removed by slightly deviating from the self-dual point. Relevant mass ratios are controlled by powers of $|ε|$. We present examples where this mechanism is a key …
We perform a comprehensive analysis of the most distinctive and important phenomenological implications of the recently proposed mechanism of sequential loop generation of strong hierarchies in the Standard Model (SM) fermion mass spectra. This mechanism is consistently realized at the level of renormalizable interactions in an extended variant of the Inert Higgs Doublet model, possessing the additional $Z_{2}^{(1)}\times Z_{2}^{(2)}$ discrete and $U_{1X}$ gauge family symmetries, while the matter sectors of the SM are extended by means of $SU_{2L}$-singlet scalars, heavy vector-like leptons a…
A mechanism to generate realistic fermion mass hierarchies based on supersymmetric gauged $U(1)_F$ symmetry in flat five-dimensional (5D) spacetime is proposed. The fifth dimension is compactified on $S^1/Z_2$ orbifold. The standard model fermions charged under the extra abelian symmetry along with their superpartners live in the 5D bulk. Bulk masses of fermions are generated by the vacuum expectation value of $N=2$ superpartner of $U(1)_F$ gauge field, and they are proportional to $U(1)_F$ charges of respective fermions. This decides localization of fermions in the extra dimension, which in t…
We propose a Clifford algebra approach to chiral symmetry breaking and fermion mass hierarchies in the context of composite Higgs bosons. Standard model fermions are represented by algebraic spinors of six-dimensional binary Clifford algebra, while ternary Clifford algebra-related flavor projection operators control allowable flavor-mixing interactions. There are three composite electroweak Higgs bosons resulted from top quark, tau neutrino, and tau lepton condensations. Each of the three condensations gives rise to masses of four different fermions. The fermion mass hierarchies within these t…
It is commonly thought that small couplings in a low-energy theory, such as those needed for the fermion mass hierarchy or proton stability, must originate from symmetries in a high-energy theory. We show that this expectation is violated in theories where the Standard Model fields are confined to a thick wall in extra dimensions, with the fermions "stuck" at different points in the wall. Couplings between them are then suppressed due to the exponentially small overlaps of their wave functions. This provides a framework for understanding both the fermion mass hierarchy and proton stability wit…
We study a two-Higgs-doublet model with four generalised CP symmetries in the scalar sector. Electroweak symmetry breaking leads automatically to spontaneous breaking of two of them. We require that these four CP symmetries can be extended from the scalar sector to the full Lagrangian and call this requirement the principle of maximal CP invariance. The Yukawa interactions of the fermions are severely restricted by this requirement. In particular, a single fermion family cannot be coupled to the Higgs fields. For two fermion families, however, this is possible. Enforcing the absence of flavour…
We construct a simple model of fermion masses based on a spontaneously broken S3 X Z3 flavour group. At the leading order, in the neutrino sector S3 is broken down to a ν_μ-ν_τparity subgroup that enforces a maximal atmospheric mixing angle and a vanishing θ_{13}. In the charged lepton sector the ν_μ-ν_τparity is maximally broken and the resulting mass matrix is nearly diagonal. The charged lepton mass hierarchy is automatically reproduced by the S3 symmetry breaking parameter alone. A careful analysis shows that, after the inclusion of all relevant subleading effects, the model predicts θ_{23…
We study a double covering of modular $A_4$ flavor symmetry in which we construct lepton models in cases of canonical seesaw and radiative seesaw models. Through $χ$ square numerical analysis, we show some predictions for the cases, depending on normal and inverted hierarchies.
Extended scalar and fermion sectors offer new opportunities for generating the observed strong hierarchies in the fermion mass and mixing patterns of the Standard Model (SM). In this work, we elaborate on the prospects of a particular extension of the Inert Higgs doublet model where the SM hierarchies are generated sequentially by radiative virtual corrections in a fully renormalisable way, i.e. without adding any non-renormalisable Yukawa terms or soft-breaking operators to the scalar potential. Our model has a potential to explain the recently observed $R_{K}$ and $R_{K^{\ast }}$ anomalies, …
We discuss the issue of fermion mass hierarchies between lepton and quark families in toy models of dynamical generation of fermion masses through minimal Lorentz Invariance Violation. Realistic hierarchies in chiral theories necessitate an extended gauge structure, which includes both vector and axial-vector interactions.
One main obstacle for any beyond the SM (BSM) scenario solving the hierarchy problem is its potentially large contributions to electric dipole moments. An elegant way to avoid this problem is to have the light SM fermions couple to the BSM sector only through bilinears, $\bar ff$. This possibility can be neatly implemented in composite Higgs models. We study the implications of dynamically generating the fermion Yukawa couplings at different scales, relating larger scales to lighter SM fermions. We show that all flavor and CP-violating constraints can be easily accommodated for a BSM scale of …
We consider fermions propagating in the bulk of the geometry found by deforming AdS, in 5 dimensions, via the back reaction of a scalar field upon the metric. This space is AdS for r asymptotically large (in the UV) but goes through a transition at a point, into another AdS space with different curvature in the IR. Masses are generated for these fermions via electroweak symmetry breaking, by coupling them to a VEV on the IR boundary. We calculate the mass spectrum in four dimensions, comparing approximate results and results found by solving the full system of bulk equations and boundary condi…
We suggest simple models which produce the suitable fermion mass hierarchies and flavor mixing angles based on the supersymmetric SO(10) grand unified theory in 6 dimensions compactified on a T^2/Z_2 orbifold. The gauge and Higgs fields propagate in 6 dimensions while ordinal chiral matter fields are localized in 4 dimensions. We introduce extra vector-like heavy fields in the extra dimensions. We show three models according to the configurations of vector-like fields in extra dimensions. The suitable fermion mass hierarchies and flavor mixings are generated by integrating out these vector-lik…
We suggest simple models which produce the suitable fermion mass hierarchies and flavor mixing angles based on the 6 dimensional N=1 supersymmetric SO(10) grand unified theory compactified on a $T^2/(Z_2 \times Z_2')$ orbifold. We introduce 6D and 5D matter fields, which contains the 1st and 2nd generation matter fields as the zero modes, respectively. The 3rd generation matter fields are located on a 4D brane. The Yukawa couplings for bulk fields are suppressed by volume factors from extra dimensions. The suitable fermion mass hierarchies and flavor mixings are generated by the volume suppres…
We propose a low-scale renormalizable trinification theory that successfully explains the flavor hierarchies and neutrino puzzle in the Standard Model (SM), as well as provides a dark matter candidate and also contains the necessary means for efficient leptogenesis. The proposed theory is based on the trinification $\SU{3}{C}\times \SU{3}{L}\times \SU{3}{R}$ gauge symmetry, which is supplemented with an additional flavor symmetry $\U{X}\times Z_{2}^{(1)} \times Z_{2}^{(2)}$. In the proposed model the top quark and the exotic fermions acquire tree-level masses, whereas the lighter SM charged fe…
The clockwork mechanism, which can naturally explain the origin of small numbers, is implemented in $SO(10)$ grand unified theories to address the origin of hierarchies in fermion masses and mixings. We show that a minimal Yukawa sector involving a $10_H$ and $\overline{126}_H$ of Higgs bosons, extended with two clockwork chains consisting of $16+\overline{16}$ vector-like fermions, can explain the hierarchical patterns with all the Yukawa couplings being of order one. Emergence of a realistic mass spectrum does not require any symmetry that distinguishes the three generations. We develop cloc…
We present a fully perturbative mechanism that naturally generates mass hierarchies for the Standard Model (SM) fermions in a flavor-blind sector. The dynamics generating the mass hierarchies can therefore be independent from the source of flavor violation, and hence this dynamics may operate at a much lower scale. This mechanism works by dynamically enforcing simultaneous diagonalization - alignment - among a set of flavor-breaking spurions, as well as generating highly singular spectra for them. It also has general applications in model building beyond the SM, wherever alignment between exot…
The masses of quarks and leptons suggest a strong hierarchical structure. We argue that their patterns can be reproduced through the introduction of a new Abelian symmetry. The data suggest that this symmetry is anomalous. We suggest that the cancellation of its anomalies occur through the Green-Schwarz mechanism. An important check of this idea is that it links the Weinberg angle to a mass ratio of the elementary fermions. The Green-Schwarz mechanism occurs naturally in many superstring compactifications, and produces a small parameter, which we use to determine the quark mass hierarchy. We s…
We study a Zee-Babu model in a modular $A_4$ flavor symmetry, in which we search for several predictions such as phases, sum of neutrino masses, and neutrinoless double beta decay, satisfying neutrino oscillation data in a minimum framework of the charge assignments of modular weight. We perform $Δχ^2$ analysis to get our results and find $τ$ is localized nearby at one of the fixed points of $i\times \infty$ for both of normal and inverted mass hierarchies.
We study an extended 2 Higgs doublet model (2HDM) in which the Standard Model (SM) Yukawa interactions are forbidden due to a global $U(1)^\prime$ symmetry, but may arise via mixing with vector-like families. In this model, the hierarchical structure of Yukawa couplings of quarks and leptons in the SM arises from the heavy masses of the fourth and fifth vector-like families. Within this model, we consider various non-standard contributions to the electron and muon anomalous magnetic moments. We first consider the $W$ exchange at one-loop level, consistent with the $μ\rightarrow e γ$ constraint…
Extensions of the Standard Model featuring a warped extra dimension compactified on an $S^1/\mathbb{Z}_2$ orbifold, in which the fermions and gauge bosons live in the bulk of the fifth dimension, offer one of the most compelling mechanisms for addressing both the hierarchy problem and the flavor puzzle of the Standard Model. However, the five-dimensional mass terms of bulk fermions must be odd functions on the orbifold, and as such they should be described by a field depending on the coordinate of the extra dimension. We demonstrate the feasibility of dynamically generating these fermion bulk …
We suggest simple models which produce the suitable fermion mass hierarchies and flavor mixing angles based on the 6 dimensional N=1 supersymmetric SO(10) grand unified theory compactified on a $T^2/(Z_2 \times Z_2')$ orbifold. We introduce extra vector-like heavy fields in the extra dimensions, and the suitable fermion mass hierarchies and flavor mixings are generated by integrating out these heavy fields. We consider gaugino mediation and gauge mediation supersymmetry breaking mechanisms and their flavor structures. The experimental constraints of small flavor changing neutral currents sugge…
Four-fermion operators with large anomalous dimension may feed down mass to quarks and leptons from a heavy fourth family. No technicolor sector is required. A model illustrates the origin of the large top mass along with quark mass hierarchies and mass mixings.
We will show that an extension of quantum field theory, recently proposed to solve the hierarchy problem, can give an elegant explanation of quark/lepton family replications. This scenario prefers fermion mass models based on a family permutation discrete symmetry.
We suggest a simple grand unified theory where the fifth dimensional coordinate is compactified on an $S_1/(Z_2 \times Z_2')$ orbifold. This model is based on the supersymmetric flipped $SU(5) \times U(1)$ grand unified theory, which can realize not only the triplet-doublet splitting but also the natural fermion mass hierarchies. The triplet-doublet splitting is realized by $S_1/(Z_2 \times Z_2')$ orbifolding, which also reduces the gauge group as $SU(5) \times U(1) \to SU(3)_c \times SU(2)_L \times U(1)_Z \times U(1)_X$. The suitable fermion mass hierarchies are generated by integrating out e…
We suggest a simple supersymmetric SO(10) grand unified theory in 6 dimensions which produces the suitable fermion mass hierarchies. The 5th and 6th dimensional coordinates are compactified on a $T^2/Z_2$ orbifold. The gauge and Higgs fields propagate in 6 dimensions while ordinal chiral matter fields are localized in 4 dimensions. The orbifolding and boundary conditions realize the gauge symmetry reduction, $SU(3)_C\times SU(2)_L \times U(1)_Y \times U(1)_X$, and the triplet-doublet mass splitting. We introduce extra three sets of vector-like heavy fields: two sets propagate in 6 dimensions a…
We propose a model based on modular $A_4$ symmetry containing a dark matter candidate, realizing radiatively induced neutrino mass at one-loop level. One finds that stability of dark matter candidate can be assured by nonzero value of modular weight and heavy neutral fermion mass hierarchies, which include dark matter under the $A_4$ triplet, are uniquely determined; $M_X\ll M_2<M_3$. Therefore we clearly identify single dark matter field which can discriminate from the other models with $A_4$ modular symmetry. Then we discuss several phenomenological aspects and show predictions on the lepton…
We study a flavor model that the quark sector has the $S_3$ modular symmetry,while the lepton sector has the $A_4$ modular symmetry. Our model leads to characteristic quark mass matrices which are consistent with experimental data of quark masses, mixing angles and the CP violating phase. The lepton sector is also consistent with the experimental data of neutrino oscillations. We also study baryon and lepton number violations in our flavor model.
We consider a flavor model based on A4 modular group to account for both lepton and quark parameters (masses and mixing). The inverse seesaw mechanism is considered to produce the light neutrino masses. Lepton masses and mixing are obtained in terms of Yukawa coupling ratios and values of the modulus τ nearby some fixed points for inverted neutrino mass hierarchy. The quark masses and mixing are arisen at the same τ values used in inverted neutrino mass hierarchy and are in agreements with the recent data.
