Search

We propose a novel and minimal framework where a light scalar field can give rise to dark matter (DM) self-interactions, while enhancing the CP symmetry required for successful baryon asymmetry of the Universe via leptogenesis route. For demonstration purpose we choose to work in a scotogenic seesaw scenario where the lightest among the right handed neutrinos (RHN), introduced for generating light neutrino masses radiatively, play the role of DM while the heavier two can play non-trivial roles in generating DM relic as well as lepton asymmetry. While dark matter self-interactions mediated by an additional singlet scalar can alleviate the small scale issues of cold dark matter paradigm, the same scalar can give rise to new one-loop decay processes of heavy RHN into standard model leptons providing an enhanced contribution to CP asymmetry, even with sub-TeV scale RHN mass. The thermally under-abundant relic of DM due to large annihilation rates into its light mediator receives a late non-thermal contribution from a heavier RHN. With only five new particles involved in the scotogenic seesaw, each having non-trivial roles in generating DM relic and baryon asymmetry, the model can explain non-zero neutrino mass while being verifiable at different experiments related to DM direct detection, flavour physics and colliders. The mechanism we demonstrated here by using a scotogenic seesaw scenario is also applicable to other models., Comment: 9 Pages, 6 Captioned Figures, Version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. D

We investigate the possibility of keV scale thermal dark matter (DM) in a gauged $B - L$ extension of the standard model with three right-handed neutrinos (RHN) and one vector like fermion in the context of cosmic inflation. The complex singlet scalar field responsible for the spontaneous breaking of $B-L$ gauge symmetry is non-minimally coupled to gravity and serves the role of inflaton. The keV scale vector like fermion DM gives rise to the possibility of warm dark matter, but it gets overproduced thermally. The subsequent entropy dilution due to one of the RHN decay can bring the thermal abundance of DM within the observed limit. The dynamics of both the DM and the diluter are regulated by the $B-L$ model parameters which are also restricted by the requirement of successful inflationary dynamics.We constrain the model parameter space from the requirement of producing sufficient entropy dilution to obtain correct DM relic, inflationary observables along with other phenomenological constraints. Interestingly, we obtain unique predictions for the order of lightest active neutrino mass ($m_{\nu_l}\lesssim 10^{-14}$ eV) as function of $B-L$ gauge coupling for keV scale DM. The proposed framework also explains the origin of observed baryon asymmetry from the decay of other two heavier RHN by overcoming the entropy dilution effect., Comment: 17 pages, 10 captioned figures, matches version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. D

We study the possibility of probing the scale of left-right symmetry breaking in the context of left-right symmetric models (LRSM). In LRSM, the right handed fermions transform as doublets under a newly introduced $SU(2)_R$ gauge symmetry. This, along with a discrete parity symmetry $\mathcal{P}$ ensuring identical gauge couplings of left and right sectors make the model left-right symmetric, providing a dynamical origin of parity violation in electroweak interactions via spontaneous symmetry breaking. The spontaneous breaking of $\mathcal{P}$ leads to the formation of domain walls in the early universe. These walls, if made unstable by introducing an explicit parity breaking term, generate gravitational waves (GW) with a spectrum characterized by the wall tension or the spontaneous $\mathcal{P}$ breaking scale, and the explicit $\mathcal{P}$ breaking term. Considering explicit $\mathcal{P}$ breaking terms to originate from Planck suppressed operators provides one-to-one correspondence between the scale of left-right symmetry and sensitivities of near future GW experiments. This is not only complementary to collider and low energy probes of TeV scale LRSM but also to GW generated from first order phase transition in LRSM with different spectral shape, peak frequencies as well as symmetry breaking scales., 8 pages, 4 figures, matches version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. D

We propose a novel way of probing high scale Dirac leptogenesis, a viable alternative to canonical leptogenesis scenario where the total lepton number is conserved, keeping light standard model (SM) neutrinos purely Dirac. The simplest possible seesaw mechanism for generating light Dirac neutrinos involve heavy singlet Dirac fermions and a singlet scalar. In addition to unbroken global lepton number, a discrete $Z_2$ symmetry is imposed to forbid direct coupling between right and left chiral parts of light Dirac neutrino. Generating light Dirac neutrino mass requires the singlet scalar to acquire a vacuum expectation value (VEV) that also breaks the $Z_2$ symmetry, leading to formation of domain walls in the early universe. These walls, if made unstable by introducing a soft $Z_2$ breaking term, generate gravitational waves (GW) with a spectrum characterized by the wall tension or the singlet VEV, and the soft symmetry breaking scale. The scale of leptogenesis depends upon the $Z_2$-breaking singlet VEV which is also responsible for the tension of the domain wall, affecting the amplitude of GW produced from the collapsing walls. We find that most of the near future GW observatories will be able to probe Dirac leptogenesis scale all the way upto $10^{11}$ GeV., 7 pages, 4 captioned figures, matches version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. D

Self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) with a light mediator is a promising scenario to alleviate the small-scale problems of the cold dark matter paradigm while being consistent with the latter at large scales, as suggested by astrophysical observations. This, however, leads to an under-abundant SIDM relic due to large annihilation rates into mediator particles, often requiring an extension of the simplest thermal or non-thermal relic generation mechanism. In this work, we consider a singlet-doublet fermion dark matter scenario where the singlet fermion with a light scalar mediator gives rise to the velocity-dependent dark matter self-interaction through a Yukawa type attractive potential. The doublet fermion, by virtue of its tiny mixing with the singlet, can be long-lived and can provide a non-thermal contribution to the singlet relic at late epochs, filling the deficit in the thermal relic of singlet SIDM. The light scalar mediator, due to its mixing with the standard model Higgs, paves the path for detecting such SIDM at terrestrial laboratories leading to constraints on model parameters from CRESST-III and XENON1T experiments. Enlarging the dark sector particles by two more singlet fermions and one scalar doublet, all odd under an unbroken $\mathcal{Z}_2$ symmetry can also explain non-zero neutrino mass in scotogenic fashion., Comment: 17 pages, 16 captioned figures, Version accepted for publication in PRD

We propose a scenario where dark matter (DM) with a wide mass range from a few keV to PeV can be produced solely from evaporating primordial black holes (PBH), while being consistent with the required free streaming length for structure formation. If DM does not have any other interactions apart from gravity and the universe has a PBH dominated phase at early epoch, then PBH evaporation typically leads to overproduction of DM in this mass range. By incorporating this gravitational DM within a Type-I seesaw scenario with three right handed neutrinos (RHN), we bring the abundance of PBH generated DM within observed limits by late entropy injection due to decay of one of the RHNs, acting as the diluter. The diluter, due to its feeble coupling with the bath particles, gets produced primarily from the PBH evaporation thereby leading to the second stage of early matter domination after the end of PBH dominated era. The other two RHNs contribute to the origin of light neutrino mass and also lead to the observed baryon asymmetry via leptogenesis with contributions from both thermally and PBH generated RHNs. The criteria of DM relic and baryon asymmetry can be satisfied simultaneously if DM mass gets restricted to a ballpark in the MeV-GeV regime with the requirement of resonant leptogenesis for heavier DM mass in order to survive the large entropy dilution at late epochs., 24 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in JCAP

We study the possibility of realising leptogenesis from three body decay, dark matter (DM) and neutrino mass in a minimal framework. We propose a first of its kind model to implement the idea of leptogenesis from three body decay where CP asymmetry arises from interference of multiple $1 \rightarrow 3$ diagrams using resummed propagators along with DM. The standard model is extended by three heavy singlet fermions, one scalar singlet and one scalar doublet with appropriate discrete charges. Two of these singlet fermions not only play non-trivial roles in generating light neutrino mass at radiative level in scotogenic fashion, but also act as mediators in three body decay of the third singlet fermion leading to desired CP asymmetry through interference of such diagrams. With just one additional field compared to the minimal scotogenic model, we show that successful leptogenesis can occur at a scale as low as approximately 1 TeV which is much lower than the leptogenesis scale found for minimal scotogenic model. Also, the realisation of this three body decay leptogenesis naturally leads to a two component scalar singlet-doublet dark matter scenario offering a rich phenomenology. Apart from having interesting interplay of different couplings involved in processes related to both leptogenesis and dark matter, the model can also be tested at different experiments due to the existence of its particle spectrum at TeV scale., Comment: Version 3: 51 pages, 20 captioned figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. D

We propose a scenario where dark matter (DM) can be generated non-thermally due to the presence of a light Dirac neutrino portal between the standard model (SM) and dark sector particles. The SM is minimally extended by three right handed neutrinos ($\nu_R$), a Dirac fermion DM candidate ($\psi$) and a complex scalar ($\phi$), transforming non-trivially under an unbroken $\mathbb{Z}_4$ symmetry while being singlets under the SM gauge group. While DM and $\nu_R$ couplings are considered to be tiny in order to be in the non-thermal or freeze-in regime, $\phi$ can be produced either thermally or non-thermally depending upon the strength of its Higgs portal coupling. We consider both these possibilities and find out the resulting DM abundance via freeze-in mechanism to constrain the model parameters in the light of Planck 2018 data. Since the interactions producing DM also produces relativistic $\nu_R$, we check the enhanced contribution to the effective relativistic degrees of freedom $\Delta {\rm N}_{\rm eff}$ in view of existing bounds as well as future sensitivities. We also check the stringent constraints on free-streaming length of such freeze-in DM from structure formation requirements. Such constraints can rule out DM mass all the way up to $\mathcal{O}(100 \, {\rm keV})$ keeping the $\Delta {\rm N}_{\rm eff} \leq \mathcal{O}(10^{-3})$, out of reach from near future experiments. Possible extensions of this minimal model can lead to observable $\Delta {\rm N}_{\rm eff}$ which can be probed at next generation experiments., Comment: 48 pages, 10 captioned figures, matches version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. D

We propose a linear seesaw model to realise light Dirac neutrinos within the framework of $A_4$ discrete flavour symmetry. The additional fields and their transformations under the flavour symmetries are chosen in such a way that naturally predicts the hierarchies of different elements of the seesaw mass matrix and also keeps the unwanted terms away. For generic choices of flavon alignments, the model predicts normal hierarchical light neutrino masses with the atmospheric mixing angle in the lower octant. Apart from predicting interesting correlations between different neutrino parameters as well as between neutrino and model parameters, the model also predicts the leptonic Dirac CP phase to lie in a specific range $-\pi/2\lesssim \delta \lesssim -\pi/5$ and $\pi/5\lesssim \delta \lesssim \pi/2$ that includes the currently preferred maximal value. The predictions for the absolute neutrino masses in one specific version of the model can also saturate the cosmological upper bound on sum of absolute neutrino masses., Comment: 23 pages, 8 figures, matches the version accepted in Phys. Lett. B

Motivated by the recently reported anomaly in W boson mass by the CDF collaboration with $7\sigma$ statistical significance, we consider a singlet-doublet (SD) Majorana fermion dark matter (DM) model where the required correction to W boson mass arises from radiative corrections induced by SD fermions. While a single generation of SD fermions, odd under an unbroken $Z_2$ symmetry, can not explain the W boson mass anomaly while being consistent with DM phenomenology, two generations of SD fermions can do so with the heavier generation playing the dominant role in W-mass correction and lighter generation playing the role in DM phenomenology. Additionally, such multiple generations of SD fermions can also generate light neutrino masses radiatively if a $Z_2$-odd singlet scalar is included., Comment: Version 3: 8 pages, 5 captioned figures; matches version accepted for publication in Phys. Lett. B

We propose a self-interacting inelastic dark matter (DM) scenario as a possible origin of the recently reported excess of electron recoil events by the XENON1T experiment. Two quasi-degenerate Majorana fermion DM interact within themselves via a light hidden sector massive gauge boson and with the standard model particles via gauge kinetic mixing. We also consider an additional long-lived singlet scalar which helps in realising correct dark matter relic abundance via a hybrid setup comprising of both freeze-in and freeze-out mechanisms. While being consistent with the required DM phenomenology along with sufficient self-interactions to address the small scale issues of cold dark matter, the model with GeV scale DM can explain the XENON1T excess via inelastic down scattering of heavier DM component into the lighter one. All these requirements leave a very tiny parameter space keeping the model very predictive for near future experiments., Comment: 34 pages, 14 figures, version accepted for publication in PRD

We study a minimal scenario to realize non-thermal leptogenesis and UV freeze-in of a Standard Model (SM) gauge singlet fermionic dark matter (DM) simultaneously, with inflaton field playing a non-trivial role in their yields. The renormalizable interactions are restricted to the SM fields, two right handed neutrinos (RHN) and inflaton coupling exclusively to the RHNs, while the DM couples to both the SM and the RHNs only via operators of dimension $d>4$. Considering two separate cases of $d=\{5,6\}$, we show that for $d=5$, inflaton decay into RHNs followed by their subsequent decay into SM particles lead to both reheating as well as DM production from the SM bath. This requires a cut-off scale as large as $\Lambda\sim 10^{17}~\rm GeV$ depending on the DM mass. On the other hand, for $d=6$, DM production happens directly from scattering of RHNs (for $\Lambda\gtrsim 10^{14}~\rm GeV$) that results in a very non-trivial evolution of the DM yield. In both these cases, it is possible to explain the observed baryon asymmetry through successful non-thermal leptogenesis via the decay of the RHNs, together with the PLANCK observed relic density of the DM via pure UV freeze-in mechanism. Taking into account both instantaneous as well as non-instantaneous reheating separately, we constrain the parameter space of this minimal scenario from relevant phenomenological requirements including sub-eV scale active neutrino masses and their mixing., Comment: 48 pages, 9 figures, Accepted in PRD

We study a dark $SU(2)_D$ gauge extension of the standard model (SM) with the possibility of a strong first order phase transition (FOPT) taking place below the electroweak scale in the light of NANOGrav 12.5 yr data. As pointed out recently by the NANOGrav collaboration, gravitational waves (GW) from such a FOPT with appropriate strength and nucleation temperature can explain their 12.5 yr data. We impose a classical conformal invariance on the scalar potential of $SU(2)_D$ sector involving only a complex scalar doublet with negligible couplings with the SM Higgs. While a FOPT at sub-GeV temperatures can give rise to stochastic GW around nano-Hz frequencies being in agreement with NANOGrav findings, the $SU(2)_D$ vector bosons which acquire masses as a result of the FOPT in dark sector, can also serve as dark matter (DM) in the universe. The relic abundance of such vector DM can be generated in a non-thermal manner from the SM bath via scalar portal mixing. We also discuss future sensitivity of gravitational wave experiments to the model parameter space., Comment: 10 pages, 6 captioned figures. accepted for publication in JCAP. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:2105.01007

We study an Abelian gauge extension of the standard model with fermion families having non-universal gauge charges. The gauge charges and scalar content are chosen in such an anomaly-free way that only the third generation fermions receive Dirac masses via renormalisable couplings with the Higgs boson. Incorporating additional vector like fermions and scalars with appropriate $U(1)$ charges can lead to radiative Dirac masses of first two generations with neutral fermions going in the loop being dark matter candidates. Focusing on radiative muon mass, we constrain the model from the requirement of satisfying muon mass, recently measured muon anomalous magnetic moment by the E989 experiment at Fermilab along with other experimental bounds including the large hadron collider (LHC) limits. The anomalous Higgs coupling to muon is constrained from the LHC measurements of Higgs to dimuon decay. The singlet fermion dark matter phenomenology is discussed showing the importance of both annihilation and coannihilation effects. Incorporating all bounds lead to a constrained parameter space which can be probed at different experiments., Comment: 26 pages, 7 captioned figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. D

We present a self-interacting boosted dark matter (DM) scenario as a possible explanation of the recently reported excess of electron recoil events by the XENON1T experiment. The Standard Model (SM) has been extended with two vector-like fermion singlets charged under a dark $U(1)_D$ gauge symmetry to describe the dark sector. While the presence of light vector boson mediator leads to sufficient DM self-interactions to address the small scale issues of cold dark matter, the model with sub-GeV scale DM can explain the XENON1T excess via elastic scattering of boosted DM component with electrons at the detector. Strong annihilation of DM into the light mediator leads to a suppressed thermal relic. A hybrid setup of dark freeze-out and non-thermal contribution from the late decay of a scalar can lead to correct relic abundance. We fit our model with XENON1T data and also find the final parameter space consistent with self-interaction of DM, DM-electron scattering rate, as well as astrophysical and cosmological observations. A tiny parameter space consistent with all these constraints and requirements can be further scrutinized in near-future experiments., 30 Pages, 13 captioned figures, Version accepted for publication in Nucl. Phys. B

Motivated by the recently reported excess in electron recoil events by the XENON1T collaboration, we propose an inelastic fermion dark matter (DM) scenario within the framework of a gauged $L_{\mu}-L_{\tau}$ extension of the standard model which can also accommodate tiny neutrino masses as well as anomalous muon magnetic moment $(g-2)_{\mu}$. A Dirac fermion DM, naturally stabilised due to its chosen gauge charge, is split into two pseudo-Dirac mass eigenstates due to Majorana mass term induced by singlet scalar which also takes part in generating right handed neutrino masses responsible for type I seesaw origin of light neutrino masses. The inelastic down scattering of heavier DM component can give rise to the XENON1T excess for keV scale mass splitting with lighter DM component. We fit our model with XENON1T data and also find the final parameter space by using bounds from $(g-2)_{\mu}$, DM relic, lifetime of heavier DM, inelastic DM-electron scattering rate, neutrino trident production rate as well as other flavour physics, astrophysical and cosmological observations. A tiny parameter space consistent with all these bounds and requirements will face further scrutiny in near future experiments operating at different frontiers., Comment: Version 3: 8 pages, 3 figures; matches version accepted for publication in Phys. Lett. B

We propose a minimal framework to address successful quartic inflation, dark matter (DM) production in the early universe and non-vanishing tiny Majorana neutrino mass from a common gravitational origin point of view. In this setup, the quartic inflation is revived successfully via non-minimal coupling of inflaton to gravity while the production of DM takes place from purely gravitational effects through a misalignment mechanism. The generation of light Majorana neutrino mass is aided by explicit breaking of global lepton number symmetry through Planck suppressed operators involving non-zero vacuum expectation value (VEV) of the inflaton field. We present a detailed study of the DM yield in presence of non-minimal inflation, considering both the metric and the Palatini formalisms of gravity wherever appropriate. We reach at some interesting and different results in the DM sector compared to the earlier works in the similar direction with minimal inflationary background. Restricting to the light DM regime ($\mathcal{O}(1)$ keV- $\mathcal{O}(100)$ MeV) where classical production is expected to dominate over the quantum production, we numerically predict the DM mass by varying the DM quartic and non-minimal coupling, to be consistent with relic density requirements. We also obtain some non-trivial dependence of DM phenomenology on some of the relevant parameters of the inflation sector {\it e.g.} non minimal coupling and inflaton VEV. To explore the dependence on inflationary parameters further, we also estimate the DM relic using the same mechanism for two other inflationary models consistent with latest data and observe that one of these models predicts different range of DM mass upto hundreds of TeV., 34 pages, 12 captioned figures, matches version accepted for publication in Physics of the Dark Universe

We study a scalar singlet dark matter (DM) having mass in sub-TeV regime by extending the minimal scalar singlet DM setup by additional vector like fermions. While the minimal scalar singlet DM satisfies the relic and direct detection constraints for mass beyond TeV only, presence of its portal coupling with vector like fermions opens up additional co-annihilation channels. These vector like fermions also help in achieving electroweak vacuum stability all the way up to Planck scale. We find that for one generation of vector like quarks consisting of a $SU(2)_L$ doublet and a singlet, scalar singlet DM with mass a few hundred GeV can indeed satisfy relic, direct detection and other relevant constraints while also making the electroweak vacuum absolutely stable. The same can be achieved by introducing vector like leptons too, but with three generations. While the model with vector like quarks is minimal, the three generations of vector like lepton doublet and neutral singlet can also give rise to light neutrino mass at one loop level., Comment: 38 pages, 16 figures and 3 tables, The accepted version in PRD

Motivated by the recently reported excess of electron recoil events by the XENON1T experiment, we propose low scale seesaw scenarios for light neutrino masses within $U(1)_X$ gauge extension of the standard model that also predicts stable as well as long lived dark sector particles. The new fields necessary for seesaw realisation as well as dark matter are charged under the $U(1)_X$ gauge symmetry in an anomaly free way. A singlet scalar field which effectively gives rise to lepton number violation and hence Majorana light neutrino masses either at tree or radiative level, also splits the dark matter field into two quasi-degenerate states. While sub-eV neutrino mass and non-zero dark matter mass splitting are related in this way, the phenomenology of sub-GeV scale inelastic dark matter can be very rich if the mass splitting is of keV scale. We show that for suitable parameter space, both the components with keV splitting can contribute to total dark matter density of the present universe, while opening up the possibility of the heavier dark matter candidate to undergo down-scattering with electrons. We check the parameter space of the model for both fermion and scalar inelastic dark matter candidates which can give rise to the XENON1T excess while being consistent with other phenomenological bounds. We also discuss the general scenario where mass splitting~$\Delta m$ between the two dark matter components can be larger, effectively giving rise to a single component dark matter scenario., Comment: 42 pages, 18 figures, Accepted for publication in Nucl. Phys. B

We study a generic leptophilic $U(1)_X$ extension of the standard model with a light gauge boson. The $U(1)_X$ charge assignments for the leptons are guided by lepton universality violating (LUV) observables in semileptonic $b \to s\ell\ell$ decays, muon anomalous magnetic moment and the origin of leptonic masses and mixing. Anomaly cancellation conditions require the addition of new chiral fermions in the model, one of which acts as a dark matter (DM) candidate when it is stabilised by an additional $\mathcal{Z}_2$ symmetry. From our analysis, we show two different possible models with similar particle content that lead to quite contrasting neutrino mass origin and other phenomenology. The proposed models also have the potential to address the anomalous results in $b\to c\ell\nu_{\ell}$ decays like $R(D), R(D^*)$, electron anomalous magnetic moment and the very recent KOTO anomaly in the kaon sector. We also discuss different possible collider signatures of our models which can be tested in future., Comment: Version accepted for publication in JHEP, few references added, No major changes in manuscript

We classify all possible texture zeros in light neutrino mass matrix in diagonal charged lepton basis by considering Dirac nature of light neutrinos. For Hermitian nature of neutrino mass matrix, the number of possible texture zeros remain same as Majorana texture zeros, but with less free parameters due to the absence of additional Majorana CP phases. Relaxing the Hermitian nature of neutrino mass matrix lead to many more possibilities and freedom due to additional CP phases, mixing angles not constrained by neutrino data. While we find that none of the texture zeros in Hermitian case are allowed, in non-Hermitian case some textures even with four zeros are allowed. While most of the one-zero, two-zero and three-zero textures in this case are allowed, four-zero textures are tightly constrained with only 6 allowed out of 126 possibilities. The allowed textures also give interesting correlations between light neutrino parameters with sharp distinctions between normal and inverted mass ordering. Many of these allowed textures also saturate the Planck 2018 upper bound on the sum of absolute neutrino masses., 30 pages, 5 figures

We consider the possibility of probing left-right symmetric model (LRSM) via cosmic microwave background (CMB). We adopt the minimal LRSM with Higgs doublets, also known as the doublet left-right model (DLRM), where all fermions including the neutrinos acquire masses only via their couplings to the Higgs bidoublet. Due to the Dirac nature of light neutrinos, there exist additional relativistic degrees of freedom which can thermalise in the early universe by virtue of their gauge interactions corresponding to the right sector. We constrain the model from Planck 2018 bound on the effective relativistic degrees of freedom and also estimate the prospects for planned CMB Stage IV experiments to constrain the model further. We find that $W_R$ boson mass below 4.06 TeV can be ruled out from Planck 2018 bound at $2\sigma$ CL in the exact left-right symmetric limit which is equally competitive as the LHC bounds from dijet resonance searches. On the other hand Planck 2018 bound at $1\sigma$ CL can rule out a much larger parameter space out of reach of present direct search experiments, even in the presence of additional relativistic degrees of freedom around the TeV corner. We also study the consequence of these constraints on dark matter in DLRM by considering a right handed real fermion quintuplet to be the dominant dark matter component in the universe., Comment: 29 pages, 8 figures, matches version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. D

We study the possibility of realising cosmic inflation, dark matter (DM), baryon asymmetry of the universe (BAU) and light neutrino masses in non-supersymmetric minimal gauged $B-L$ extension of the standard model with three right handed neutrinos. The singlet scalar field responsible for spontaneous breaking of $B-L$ gauge symmetry also plays the role of inflaton by virtue of its non-minimal coupling to gravity. While the lightest right handed neutrino is the DM candidate, being stabilised by an additional $Z_2$ symmetry, we show by performing a detailed renormalisation group evolution (RGE) improved study of inflationary dynamics that thermal DM is generally overproduced due to insufficient annihilations through gauge and scalar portals. This happens due to strict upper limits obtained on gauge and other dimensionless couplings responsible for DM annihilation while assuming the non-minimal coupling to gravity to be at most of order unity. The non-thermal DM scenario is viable, with or without $Z_2$ symmetry, although in such a case the $B-L$ gauge sector remains decoupled from the inflationary dynamics due to tiny couplings. We also show that the reheat temperature predicted by the model prefers non-thermal leptogenesis with hierarchical right handed neutrinos while being consistent with other requirements., 48 pages, 18 figures, minor revision, matches version accepted for publication in Eur. Phys. J. C

We studied the phenomenological implications of texture zeros in the neutrino mass matrix of the minimal left-right symmetric model (LRSM). Since the possibility of maximum zeros reduces the maximum number of free parameters of the model making it more predictive, we considered only those cases with maximum possible texture zeros in light neutrino mass matrix $M_{\nu}$, Dirac neutrino mass matrix $M_D$ and heavy right-handed (RH) neutrino mass matrix $M_{RR}$. We then computed the correlations among the different light neutrino parameters and then the new physics contributions to neutrinoless double beta decay (NDBD) for the different texture zero cases. We find that for RH neutrino masses above 1 GeV, the new physics contributions to NDBD can saturate the corresponding experimental bound., Comment: TAUP19 proceedings

We scrutinise the widely studied minimal scotogenic model of dark matter (DM) and radiative neutrino mass from the requirement of a strong first order electroweak phase transition (EWPT) and observable gravitational waves at future planned space based experiments. The scalar DM scenario is similar to inert scalar doublet extension of standard model where a strong first order EWPT favours a portion of the low mass regime of DM which is disfavoured by the latest direct detection bounds. In the fermion DM scenario, we get newer region of parameter space which favours strong first order EWPT as the restriction on mass ordering within inert scalar doublet gets relaxed. While such leptophilic fermion DM remains safe from stringent direct detection bounds, newly allowed low mass regime of charged scalar can leave tantalising signatures at colliders and can also induce charged lepton flavour violation within reach of future experiments. While we get such new region of parameter space satisfying DM relic, strong first order EWPT with detectable gravitational waves, light neutrino mass and other relevant constraints, we also improve upon previous analysis in similar model by incorporating appropriate resummation effects in effective finite temperature potential., 36 pages, 6 figures, matches version accepted for publication in JCAP

We study the possibility of low scale leptogenesis along with dark matter (DM) in the presence of primordial black holes (PBH). For a common setup to study both leptogenesis and DM we consider the minimal scotogenic model which also explains light neutrino mass at radiative level. While PBH in the mass range of $0.1-10^5$ g can, in principle, affect leptogenesis, the required initial PBH fraction usually leads to overproduction of scalar doublet DM whose thermal freeze-out occurs before PBH evaporation. PBH can lead to non-thermal source of leptogenesis as well as dilution of thermally generated lepton asymmetry via entropy injection, with the latter being dominant. The parameter space of scotogenic model which leads to overproduction of baryon or lepton asymmetry in standard cosmology can be made consistent in the presence of PBH with appropriate initial mass and energy fraction. On the other hand, for such PBH parameters, the scalar DM is constrained to be in light mass regime where its freeze-out occurs after PBH evaporation. We then discuss the possibility of fermion singlet DM with $N_2$ leptogenesis in the same model where due to singlet nature of DM, its connection with PBH parameters and hence leptogenesis becomes stronger compared to the previous case., Comment: 44 pages, 17 captioned figures, to appear in JCAP

We consider a simple extension of the minimal left-right symmetric model (LRSM) in order to explain the PeV neutrino events seen at the IceCube experiment from a heavy decaying dark matter. The dark matter sector is composed of two fermions: one at PeV scale and the other at TeV scale such that the heavier one can decay into the lighter one and two neutrinos. The gauge annihilation cross sections of PeV dark matter are not large enough to generate its relic abundance within the observed limit. We include a pair of real scalar triplets $\Omega_{L,R}$ which can bring the thermally overproduced PeV dark matter abundance into the observed range through late time decay and consequent entropy release thereby providing a consistent way to obtain the correct relic abundance without violating the unitarity bound on dark matter mass. Another scalar field, a bitriplet under left-right gauge group is added to assist the heavier dark matter decay. The presence of an approximate global $U(1)_X$ symmetry can naturally explain the origin of tiny couplings required for long-lived nature of these decaying particles. We also show, how such an extended LRSM can be incorporated within a non-supersymmetric $SO(10)$ model where the gauge coupling unification at a very high scale naturally accommodate a PeV scale intermediate symmetry, required to explain the PeV events at IceCube., Comment: 33 pages, 9 figures, 4 tables; error in relic density calculation fixed and discussion expanded for better clarity; matches published version

We study an extension of the Inert Higgs Doublet Model (IHDM) by three copies of right handed neutrinos and heavy charged leptons such that both the inert Higgs doublet and the heavy fermions are odd under the $Z_2$ symmetry of the model. The neutrino masses are generated at one loop in the scotogenic fashion. Assuming the neutral scalar of the inert Higgs to be the dark matter candidate, we particularly look into the region of parameter space where dark matter relic abundance is primarily governed by the inert Higgs coupling with the leptons. This corresponds to tiny Higgs portal coupling of dark matter as well as large mass splitting within different components of the inert Higgs doublet suppressing the coannihilations. Such lepton portal couplings can still produce the correct relic abundance even if the Higgs portal couplings are arbitrarily small. Such tiny Higgs portal couplings may be responsible for suppressed dark matter nucleon cross section as well as tiny invisible branching ratio of the standard model Higgs, to be probed at ongoing and future experiments. We also briefly discuss the collider implications of such a scenario., 10 pages, 7 figures

We propose an Abelian gauged version of the singlet-doublet fermionic dark matter (DM) model where DM, combination of a vector like fermion doublet and a fermion singlet, is naturally stabilised by the gauge symmetry without requiring any ad-hoc discrete symmetries. In order to have good detection prospects at collider experiments like the large hadron collider (LHC) and enlarged parameter space for low mass DM, we consider the additional gauge symmetry to be based on the quantum $B-3L_{\tau}$ where the restriction to third generation of leptons is chosen to have weaker bounds from the LHC on the corresponding gauge boson. The triangle anomalies arising in this model can be cancelled by including a right handed neutrino which takes part in generating light neutrino masses through type I seesaw mechanism. Apart from DM, collider prospects and light neutrino masses, the model also offers high scale validity giving rise to a stable electroweak vacuum and perturbative couplings all the way up to the Planck scale. We constrain our model parameters from these requirements as well as existing relevant constraints related to DM and colliders., Comment: 56 pages, 20 figures, matches version accepted for publication in JHEP

We study a discrete flavour symmetric scenario for neutrino mass and dark matter under the circumstances where such global discrete symmetries can be explicitly broken at Planck scale, possibly by gravitational effects. Such explicit breaking of discrete symmetries mimic as Planck suppressed operators in the model which can have non-trivial consequences for neutrino and dark matter sectors. In particular, we study a flavour symmetric model which, at renormalisable level, gives rise to tri-bimaximal type neutrino mixing with vanishing reactor mixing angle $\theta_{13}=0$, a stable inert scalar doublet behaving like a weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) and a stable singlet inert fermion which does not interact with any other particles. The introduction of Planck suppressed operators which explicitly break the discrete symmetries, can give rise to the generation of non-zero $\theta_{13}$ in agreement with neutrino data and also open up decay channels of inert scalar doublet into singlet neutral inert fermion leading to the realisation of the super-WIMP dark matter scenario. We show that the correct neutrino phenomenology can be obtained in this model while discussing three distinct realisation of the super-WIMP dark matter scenario., Comment: 38 pages, 13 figures, to appear in Physical Review D

The ANtarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA) collaboration has observed two EeV-energy, upward going events originating from below the horizon. As no standard model (SM) particles, propagating through the earth at such energy and exit angles, can give rise to the required survival probability for the observed events, several beyond standard model (BSM) proposals have come up. We propose a scenario where a $Z_2$ odd sector is responsible for such anomalous events. The next to lightest $Z_2$ odd particle or the next to lightest stable particle (NLSP), created from ultra high energy neutrino interactions with nucleons, can pass through the earth and then decay into the lightest $Z_2$ odd particle or the lightest stable particle (LSP) and a tau lepton. The long-lived nature of the NLSP requires its coupling with the LSP to be very small, keeping the LSP out of thermal equilibrium in the early universe. The LSP can then be a non-thermal dark matter while the tau leptons produced from NLSP decay after passing through the earth can explain the ANITA events. We first show that a purely non-thermal dark matter scenario can not give rise to the required event rates while a hybrid scenario where dark matter can have both thermal as a well non-thermal contribution to its relic abundance, serves the purpose., 21 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review D

We propose a minimal extension of the Standard Model to accommodate two-component dark matter (DM) and light neutrino mass. The symmetry of the Standard Model is enhanced by an unbroken $\mathbb{Z}_2 \times \mathbb{Z}'_2$ such that being odd under each $\mathbb{Z}_2$, there exists one right handed neutrino and one inert scalar doublet. Therefore, each of the $\mathbb{Z}_2$ sectors contribute to ($i$) light neutrino masses radiatively similar to the scotogenic models while ($ii$) the two neutral CP even scalars present in two additional inert doublets play the role of dark matters. Focusing on the intermediate range of inert scalar doublet DM scenario: $M_W \leq M_{\rm DM} \lesssim 500 \; {\rm GeV}$, where one scalar doublet DM can not satisfy correct relic, we show that this entire range becomes allowed within this two-component scalar doublet DM, thanks to the inter-conversion between the two DM candidates in presence of neutrino Yukawa couplings with dark sector., 33 pages, 13 figures, matches version accepted by Physical Review D

We consider the possibility of texture zeros in lepton mass matrices of the minimal left-right symmetric model (LRSM) where light neutrino mass arises from a combination of type I and type II seesaw mechanisms. Based on the allowed texture zeros in light neutrino mass matrix from neutrino and cosmology data, we make a list of all possible allowed and disallowed texture zeros in Dirac and heavy neutrino mass matrices which appear in type I and type II seesaw terms of LRSM. For the numerical analysis we consider those cases with maximum possible texture zeros in light neutrino mass matrix $M_{\nu}$, Dirac neutrino mass matrix $M_D$, heavy neutrino mass matrix $M_{RR}$ while keeping the determinant of $M_{RR}$ non-vanishing, in order to use the standard type I seesaw formula. The possibility of maximum zeros reduces the free parameters of the model making it more predictive. We then compute the new physics contributions to rare decay processes like neutrinoless double beta decay, charged lepton flavour violation. We find that even for a conservative lower limit on a left-right symmetry scale corresponding to heavy charged gauge boson mass 4.5 TeV, in agreement with collider bounds, for right-handed neutrino masses above 1 GeV, the new physics contributions to these rare decay processes can saturate the corresponding experimental bound., Comment: 49 pages, 30 figures, 6 tables, typos corrected, more references and discussion added, to appear in JHEP

We discuss the possibility of realising a two-component dark matter (DM) scenario where the two DM candidates differ from each other by virtue of their production mechanism in the early universe. One of the DM candidates is thermally generated in a way similar to the weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) paradigm where the DM abundance is governed by its freeze-out while the other candidate is produced only from non-thermal contributions similar to freeze-in mechanism. We discuss this in a minimal extension of the standard model where light neutrino masses arise radiatively in a way similar to the scotogenic models with DM particles going inside the loop. The lepton asymmetry is generated at the same time from WIMP DM annihilations as well as partially from the mother particle for non-thermal DM. This can be achieved while satisfying the relevant experimental bounds, and keeping the scale of leptogenesis or the thermal DM mass as low as 3 TeV, well within present experimental reach. In contrast to the TeV scale thermal DM mass, the non-thermal DM can be as low as a few keV, giving rise to the possibility of a sub-dominant warm dark matter (WDM) component that can have interesting consequences on structure formation. The model also has tantalizing prospects of being detected at ongoing direct detection experiments as well as the ones looking for charged lepton flavour violating process like $\mu \rightarrow e \gamma$., Comment: 29 pages, 9 figures, matches version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. D

We propose a new gauged $B-L$ extension of the standard model where light neutrinos are of Dirac type, naturally acquiring sub-eV mass after electroweak symmetry breaking, without any additional global symmetries. This is realised by choosing a different $B-L$ charge for right handed neutrinos than the usual $-1$ so that the Dirac Yukawa coupling involves an additional neutrinophilic scalar doublet instead of the usual Higgs doublet. The model can be made anomaly free by considering four additional chiral fermions which give rise to two massive Dirac fermions by appropriate choice of singlet scalars. The choice of scalars not only helps in achieving the desired particle mass spectra via spontaneous symmetry breaking, but also leaves a remnant $Z_2 \times Z'_2$ symmetry to stabilise the two dark matter candidates. Apart from this interesting link between Dirac nature of light neutrinos and multi-component dark matter sector, we also find that the dark matter parameter space is constrained mostly by the cosmological upper limit on effective relativistic degrees of freedom $\Delta N_{\rm eff}$ which gets enhanced in this model due to the thermalisation of the light right handed neutrinos by virtue of their sizeable $B-L$ gauge interactions., Comment: 34 pages, 6 figures. matches version accepted for publication in Eur. Phys. J. C

We propose a minimal extension of the standard model of particle physics to accommodate cosmic inflation, dark matter and light neutrino masses. While the inflationary phase is obtained from a modified chaotic inflation scenario, consistent with latest cosmology data, the dark matter particle is a fermion singlet which remains out of equilibrium in the early universe. The scalar field which revives the chaotic inflation scenario by suitable modification also assists in generating tiny couplings of dark matter with its mother particle, naturally realizing the non-thermal or freeze-in type dark matter scenario. Interestingly, the same assisting scalar field also helps in realizing tiny Yukawa couplings required to generate sub-eV Dirac neutrino mass from neutrino couplings to the standard model like Higgs field. The minimality as well as providing a unified solution to all three problems keep the model predictive at experiments spanning out to all frontiers., Comment: 25 pages, 5 figures, matches version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. D

We propose a $B-L$ gauged extension of the Standard Model where light neutrino masses arise from type III seesaw mechanism. Unlike the minimal $B-L$ model with three right handed neutrinos having unit lepton number each, the model with three fermion triplets is however not anomaly free. We show that the leftover triangle anomalies can be cancelled by two neutral Dirac fermions having fractional $B-L$ charges, both of which are naturally stable by virtue of a remnant $\mathbb{Z}_2 \times \mathbb{Z}'_2$ symmetry, naturally leading to a two component dark matter scenario without any ad-hoc symmetries. We constrain the model from all relevant phenomenological constraints including dark matter properties. Light neutrino mass and collider prospects are also discussed briefly. Due to additional neutral gauge bosons, the fermion triplets in type III seesaw can have enhanced production cross section in collider experiment., Comment: 50 pages,11 figures, 5 tables, version accepted for publication in JHEP

We perform a model independent study of freeze-in of massive particle dark matter (DM) by adopting an effective field theory framework. Considering the dark matter to be a gauge singlet Majorana fermion, odd under a stabilising symmetry $Z_2$ under which all standard model (SM) fields are even, we write down all possible DM-SM operators upto and including mass dimension eight. For simplicity of the numerical analysis we restrict ourselves only to the scalar operators in SM as well as in the dark sector. We calculate the DM abundance for each such dimension of operator considering both UV and IR freeze-in contributions which can arise before and after the electroweak symmetry breaking respectively. After constraining the cut-off scale and reheat temperature of the universe from the requirement of correct DM relic abundance, we also study the possibility of connecting the origin of neutrino mass to the same cut-off scale by virtue of lepton number violating Weinberg operators. We thus compare the bounds on such cut-off scale and corresponding reheat temperature required for UV freeze-in from the origin of light neutrino mass as well as from the requirement of correct DM relic abundance. We also briefly comment upon the possibilities of realising such DM-SM effective operators in a UV complete model., Comment: 60 pages, 6 tables, 11 figures, added two new sections, accepted for publication in JCAP

We study the possibility of texture zeros in Majorana light neutrino mass matrix in the light of dark large mixing angle (DLMA) solution to solar neutrino problem where solar mixing angle ($\sin^2{\theta_{12}}\simeq 0.7 $) lies in the second octant instead of first octant in standard large mixing angle (LMA) scenario ($\sin^2{\theta_{12}}\simeq 0.3 $). In three neutrino scenario, we find that LMA and DLMA solutions lead to different set of allowed and disallowed textures with one and two zeros. While being consistent with existing bounds from neutrino oscillation data, neutrinoless double beta decay and cosmology these allowed textures also lead to interesting correlations among light neutrino parameters which can distinguish LMA from DLMA solution. We also check the implications for texture zeros in $3+1$ neutrino scenario using both LMA and DLMA solutions. While LMA and DLMA solutions do not play decisive role in ruling out texture zeros in this case, they do give rise to distinct predictions and correlations between light neutrino parameters., Comment: 37 pages, 10 figures, Journal accepted version

We study the consequence of a non-standard cosmological epoch in the early universe on the generation of baryon asymmetry through leptogenesis as well as dark matter abundance. We consider two different non-standard epochs: one where a scalar field behaving like pressure-less matter dominates the early universe, known as early matter domination (EMD) scenario while in the second scenario, the energy density of the universe is dominated by a component whose energy density red-shifts faster than radiation, known as fast expanding universe (FEU) scenario. While a radiation dominated universe is reproduced by the big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) epoch in both the scenario, the high scale phenomena like generation of baryon asymmetry and dark matter relic get significantly affected. Adopting a minimal particle physics framework known as the scotogenic model which generates light neutrino masses at one-loop level, we find that in one specific realisation of EMD scenario, the scale of leptogenesis can be lower than that in a standard cosmological scenario. The other non-standard cosmological scenarios, on the other hand, can be constrained from the requirement of successful low scale leptogenesis and generating correct dark matter abundance simultaneously. Such a low scale scenario not only gives a unified picture of baryon asymmetry, dark matter and origin of neutrino mass but also opens up interesting possibilities for experimental detection., Comment: 45 pages, 22 figures, matches version accepted for publication in JCAP

We study the possibility of keV neutrino dark matter in the minimal $U(1)_{B-L}$ gauge extension of the standard model where three right handed neutrinos are automatically included due to the requirement of anomaly cancellations. Without considering extra additional particles or symmetries, we consider the lightest right handed neutrino to be in the keV mass range which is kinematically long lived. Due to gauge interactions, such a keV neutrino can be thermally produced in the early Universe followed by decoupling while being relativistic. The final relic abundance of such keV neutrino typically overclose the Universe requiring additional mechanism to bring it under observed limits. We propose a non-standard cosmological history where a scalar field $\phi$, that redshifts faster than radiation dominates the Universe prior to the radiation dominated era. We show that such a non-standard phase can keep the abundance of thermally generated keV neutrino dark matter within observed relic abundance. We constrain the non-standard phase, $U(1)_{B-L}$ parameters from these requirements and also briefly comment upon the observational aspects of such keV neutrino dark matter., Comment: 23 pages, 5 figures

We consider the scotogenic model, where the standard model (SM) is extended by a scalar doublet and three $Z_2$ odd SM-singlet fermions ($N_i$, $i=1,2,3$), all odd under an additional $Z_2$ symmetry, as a unifying framework for simultaneous explanation of inflation, dark matter, baryogenesis and neutrino mass. The inert doublet is coupled nonminimally to gravity and forms the inflaton. The lightest neutral particle of this doublet later becomes the dark matter candidate. Baryogenesis is achieved via leptogenesis by the decay of $N_1$ to SM leptons and the inert doublet particles. Neutrino masses are generated at the one-loop level. Explaining all these phenomena together in one model is very economic and gives us a new set of constraints on the model parameters. We calculate the inflationary parameters like spectral index, tensor-to-scalar ratio and scalar power spectrum, and find them to be consistent with the Planck 2018 constraints. We also do the reheating analysis for the inert doublet decays/annihilations to relativistic, SM particles. We find that the observed baryon asymmetry of the Universe can be obtained and the sum of light neutrino mass bound can be satisfied for the lightest $Z_2$ odd singlet fermion of mass around 10 TeV, dark matter in the mass range 1.25--1.60 TeV, and the lepton number violating quartic coupling between the SM Higgs and the inert doublet in the range of $6.5\times10^{-5}$ to $7.2\times 10^{-5}$., Comment: 31 pages, 6 figures, Version accepted in Phys. Rev. D

We investigate the potential collider signatures of singly-charged and doubly-charged Higgs bosons such as those arising in minimal left-right symmetric models. Focusing on multileptonic probes in the context of the high-luminosity run of the Large Hadron Collider, we separately assess the advantages of the four-leptonic and trileptonic final states for a representative benchmark setup designed by considering a large set of experimental constraints. Our study establishes possibilities of identifying singly-charged and doubly-charged scalars at the Large Hadron Collider with a large significance, for luminosity goals expected to be reached during the high-luminosity phase of the Large Hadron Collider. We generalise our results and demonstrate that existing limits can in principle be pushed much further in the heavy mass regime., 13 pages, 4 figures; version accepted by PRD

We propose a way to generate tiny couplings of freeze-in massive particle dark matter with the Standard Model particles dynamically by considering an extension of the electroweak gauge symmetry. The dark matter is considered to be a singlet under this extended gauge symmetry which we have assumed to be the one in a very widely studied scenario called left-right symmetric model. Several heavy particles, that can be thermally inaccessible in the early Universe due to their masses being greater than the reheat temperature after inflation, can play the role of portals between dark matter and Standard Model particles through one loop couplings. Due to the loop suppression, one can generate the required non-thermal dark matter couplings without any need of highly fine tuned Yukawa couplings beyond that of electron Yukawa with the Standard Model like Higgs boson. We show that generic values of Yukawa couplings as large as $\mathcal{O}(0.01)$ to $\mathcal{O}(1)$ can keep the dark matter out of thermal equilibrium in the early Universe and produce the correct relic abundance later through the freeze-in mechanism. Though the radiative couplings of dark matter are tiny as required by the freeze-in scenario, the associated rich particle sector of the model can be probed at ongoing and near future experiments. The allowed values of dark matter mass can remain in a wide range from keV to TeV order keeping the possibilities of warm and cold dark matter equally possible., Comment: 28 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables, loop expressions corrected, conclusion remains unaltered, two new appendices are added

We propose a novel scenario of generating lepton asymmetry via annihilation and coannihilation of dark sector particles including t-channel processes. In order to realistically implement this idea, we consider the scotogenic model having three right handed neutrinos and a new scalar doublet, all of which are odd under an in-built $Z_2$ symmetry. The lightest $Z_2$ odd particle, if electromagnetically neutral, can be a dark matter candidate while annihilation and coannihilation between different $Z_2$ odd particles into standard model leptons serve as the source of lepton asymmetry. The light neutrino masses arise at one loop level with $Z_2$ odd fields going inside the loop. We show that experimental data related to light neutrinos, dark matter relic abundance and baryon asymmetry can be simultaneously satisfied in the model for two different cases: one with fermion dark matter and the other with scalar dark matter. In both scenarios, t-channel annihilation as well as coannihilation of $Z_2$ odd particles play a non-trivial role in producing the non-zero CP asymmetry. Both the scenarios remain allowed from DM direct detection while keeping the scale of leptogenesis as low as TeV or less, lower than the one for vanilla leptogenesis scenario in scotogenic model along with the additional advantage of explaining the baryon-dark matter coincidence to some extent. Due to such low scale, the model is testable through rare decay experiments looking for charged lepton flavour violation., Comment: Version 2: Major revision, 32 pages, 8 figures, matches version accepted for publication in Eur. Phys. J. C

We study the possibility of probing different texture zero neutrino mass matrices at long baseline neutrino experiment DUNE. Assuming a diagonal charged lepton basis and Majorana nature of light neutrinos, we first classify the possible light neutrino mass matrices with one and two texture zeros and then numerically evaluate the parameter space in terms of atmospheric mixing angle $\theta_{23}$ and Dirac CP phase $\delta_{\text{CP}}$ which satisfies the texture zero conditions. We then feed these parameter values into the numerical analysis in order to study the sensitivity of DUNE experiment to them. We find that the DUNE will be able to exclude some of these texture zero mass matrices which restrict the $(\theta_{23}-\delta_{\text{CP}})$ to a very specific range of values., Comment: 40 pages, 23 figures, Expanded discussion, main conclusion unchanged, to appear in Phys. Rev. D

In this work we revisit the zero textures in low energy Majorana neutrino mass matrix when the active neutrino sector is extended by a light sterile neutrino in the eV scale i.e., the 3+1 scheme. In 3+1 scenario, the low energy neutrino mass matrix ($m_\nu$) has ten independent elements. Thus in principle one can have minimum one-zero texture to maximum ten-zero texture. We summarize the previous results of one, two, three and four-zero textures which already exist in the literature and present our new results on five-zero textures. In our analysis we find that among six possible five-zero textures, only one is allowed by the present data. We discuss possible theoretical model which can explain the origin of the allowed five-zero texture and discuss other possible implications of such a scenario. Our results also concludes that in 3+1 scheme, one can not have more than five-zeros in $m_\nu$., Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures. Version published in PRD

We present a detailed discussion on neutrinoless double beta decay $(0\nu \beta \beta)$ within left-right symmetric models based on the gauge symmetry of type $SU(2)_L \times SU(2)_R \times U(1)_{B-L}$ as well as $SU(3)_L \times SU(3)_R \times U(1)_{X}$ where fermion masses including that of neutrinos are generated through a universal seesaw mechanism. We find that one or more of the right-handed neutrinos could be as light as a few keV if left-right symmetry breaking occurs in the range of a few TeV to 100 TeV. With such light right-handed neutrinos, we perform a detailed study of new physics contributions to $0\nu \beta \beta$ and constrain the model parameters from the latest experimental bound on such a rare decay process. We find that the new physics contribution to $0\nu \beta \beta$ in such a scenario, particularly the heavy-light neutrino mixing diagrams, can individually saturate the existing experimental bounds, but their contributions to total $0\nu \beta \beta$ half-life cancels each other due to unitarity of the total $6\times 6$ mass matrix. The effective contribution to half-life therefore, arises from the purely left and purely right neutrino and gauge boson mediated diagrams. We find that the parameter space saturating the $0\nu \beta \beta$ bounds remain allowed from the latest experimental bounds on charged lepton flavour violating decays like $\mu \rightarrow e \gamma$. We finally include the bounds from cosmology and supernova to constrain the parameter space of the model., Comment: 42 pages, 9 figures, to appear in Int. J. Mod. Phys. A

We study the possibility of generating tiny Dirac masses of neutrinos in Left-Right Symmetric Model (LRSM) without requiring the existence of any additional symmetries. The charged fermions acquire masses through a universal seesaw mechanism due to the presence of additional vector like fermions. The neutrinos acquire a one-loop Dirac mass from the same additional vector like charged leptons without requiring any additional discrete symmetries. The model can also be extended by an additional $Z_2$ symmetry in order to have a scotogenic version of this scenario predicting a stable dark matter candidate. We show that the latest Planck upper bound on the effective number of relativistic degrees of freedom $N_{\text{eff}}=3.15 \pm 0.23$ tightly constrains the right sector gauge boson masses to be heavier than 3.548 TeV. This bound on gauge boson mass also affects the allowed values of right scalar doublet dark matter mass from the requirement of satisfying the Planck bound on dark matter relic abundance. We also discuss the possible implications of such a scenario in charged lepton flavour violation and generating observable electric dipole moment of leptons., 24 pages, 12 figures, Published version

We propose two different seesaw models namely, type I and inverse seesaw to realise light Dirac neutrinos within the framework of $A_4$ discrete flavour symmetry. The additional fields and their transformations under the flavour symmetries are chosen in such a way that naturally predicts the hierarchies of different elements of the seesaw mass matrices in these two types of seesaw mechanisms. For generic choices of flavon alignments, both the models predict normal hierarchical light neutrino masses with the atmospheric mixing angle in the lower octant. Apart from predicting interesting correlations between different neutrino parameters as well as between neutrino and model parameters, the model also predicts the leptonic Dirac CP phase to lie in a specific range -$\pi/3$ to $\pi/3$. While the type I seesaw model predicts smaller values of absolute neutrino mass, the inverse seesaw predictions for the absolute neutrino masses can saturate the cosmological upper bound on sum of absolute neutrino masses for certain choices of model parameters., Comment: 19 pages, 08 figures; matches published version