Neutrino mass matrices in models with horizontal symmetries

Abstract

We have studied the most general neutrino mass matrices in models with SU(2) and SU(3) horizontal symmetries. Without going into the details of the models it is possible to write down the effective operators, which predict the structure of the Majorana neutrino mass matrices. Unlike other extensions of the standard model, the structure is now independent of the effective Yukawa couplings and depends entirely on the Higgs which gives mass to the other fermions. In the case of SU(3) symmetries the lowest dimensional operators are forbidden requiring a low mass scale for lepton number violation.