M. N. Rebelo

Leptogenesis, CP violation and neutrino data: What can we learn?

A detailed analytic and numerical study of baryogenesis through leptogenesis is performed in the framework of the standard model of electroweak interactions extended by the addition of three right-handed neutrinos, leading to the seesaw mechanism. We analyze the connection between GUT-motivated relations for the quark and lepton mass matrices and the possibility of obtaining a viable leptogenesis scenario. In particular, we analyze whether the constraints imposed by SO(10) GUTs can be compatible with all the available solar, atmospheric and reactor neutrino data and, simultaneously, be capable of producing the required baryon asymmetry via the leptogenesis mechanism. It is found that the Just-So 2 and SMA solar solutions lead to a viable leptogenesis even for the simplest SO(10) GUT, while the LMA, LOW and VO solar solutions would require a different hierarchy for the Dirac neutrino masses in order to generate the observed baryon asymmetry. Some implications on CP violation at low energies and on neutrinoless double beta decay are also considered.

A bridge between CP violation at low energies and leptogenesis

We discuss the possibility of relating the size and sign of the observed baryon asymmetry of the universe to CP violation observable at low energies, in a framework where the observed baryon asymmetry is produced by leptogenesis through the out of the equilibrium decay of heavy Majorana neutrinos. We identify the CP violating phases entering in leptogenesis as well as those relevant for CP violation at low energies in the minimal seesaw model. We show that although in general there is no relation between these two sets of phases, there are specific frameworks in which such a connection may be established and we give a specific grand unification inspired example where such a connection does exist. We construct weak-basis invariants related to CP violation responsible for leptogenesis, as well as those relevant for CP violation at low energies.

Minimal Scenarios for Leptogenesis and CP Violation

The relation between leptogenesis and CP violation at low energies is analyzed in detail in the framework of the minimal seesaw mechanism. Working, without loss of generality, in a weak basis where both the charged lepton and the right-handed Majorana mass matrices are diagonal and real, we consider a convenient generic parametrization of the Dirac neutrino Yukawa coupling matrix and identify the necessary condition which has to be satisfied in order to establish a direct link between leptogenesis and CP violation at low energies. In the context of the LMA solution of the solar neutrino problem, we present minimal scenarios which allow for the full determination of the cosmological baryon asymmetry and the strength of CP violation in neutrino oscillations. Some specific realizations of these minimal scenarios are considered. The question of the relative sign between the baryon asymmetry and CP violation at low energies is also discussed.

Leptonic invariants, neutrino mass-ordering and the octant of θ 23

A bstractWe point out that leptonic weak-basis invariants are an important tool for the study of the properties of lepton flavour models. In particular, we show that appropriately chosen invariants can give a clear indication of whether a particular lepton flavour model favours normal or inverted hierarchy for neutrino masses and what is the octant of θ23. These invariants can be evaluated in any conveniently chosen weak-basis and can also be expressed in terms of neutrino masses, charged lepton masses, mixing angles and CP violation phases.

Majorana neutrinos and CP violation in the leptonic sector

A set of weak-basis-independent necessary conditions is derived for CP conservation in the leptonic sector of the SU(2) × U(1) gauge theory with an arbitrary number of generations, when both Majorana and Dirac neutrino mass terms are present. In the case of two and three generations of left-handed Majorana neutrinos, weak-basis-independent conditions are given which are necessary and sufficient for CP invariance in the leptonic sector. It is also shown that for three or more generations of Majorana neutrinos, there may be CP violation even in the limit of complete neutrino-mass degeneracy.

Split Fermions in Extra Dimensions and CP Violation

We discuss CP violation in the quark sector within a novel approach to the Yukawa puzzle proposed by Arkani-Hamed and Schmaltz, where Yukawa hierarchies result from localising the Standard Model quark field wave-functions, at different positions (in the extra dimensions) in a “fat-brane.” We show that at least two extra dimensions are necessary in order to obtain sufficient CP violation, while reproducing the correct quark mass spectrum and mixing

CP-odd invariants in models with several Higgs doublets

We present CP-odd Higgs-basis invariants, which can be used to signal CP violation in a multi-Higgs system, written in an arbitrary Higgs basis. It is shown through specific examples how these CPodd invariants can also be useful to determine the character of CP breaking (i.e. whether it is hard or soft CP breaking) in a given Higgs Lagrangian. We analyse in detail the cases of two and three Higgs doublets.

Flavour-changing Higgs couplings in a class of two Higgs doublet models

We analyse various flavour-changing processes like

Resonant leptogenesis and tribimaximal leptonic mixing with A4 symmetry

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