We perform a systematic analysis of all possible texture zeros in general and symmetric quark mass matrices. Using the values of masses and mixing parameters at the electroweak scale, we identify for both cases the maximally restrictive viable textur
es. Furthermore, we investigate the predictive power of these textures by applying a numerical predictivity measure recently defined by us. With this measure we find no predictive textures among the viable general quark mass matrices, while in the case of symmetric quark mass matrices most of the 15 maximally restrictive textures are predictive with respect to one or more light quark masses.
Flavour symmetries have been used to constrain both quark and lepton mixing parameters. In particular, they can be used to completely fix the mixing angles. For the lepton sector, assuming that neutrinos are Majorana particles, we have derived the co
mplete list of mixing patterns achievable in this way, as well as the symmetry groups associated to each case. Partial computer scans done in the past have hinted that such list is limited, and this does indeed turn out to be the case. In addition, most mixing patterns are already 3-sigma excluded by neutrino oscillation data.
Assuming that neutrinos are Majorana particles, we perform a complete classification of all possible mixing matrices which are fully determined by residual symmetries in the charged-lepton and neutrino mass matrices. The classification is based on th
e assumption that the residual symmetries originate from a finite flavour symmetry group. The mathematical tools which allow us to accomplish this classification are theorems on sums of roots of unity. We find 17 sporadic cases plus one infinite series of mixing matrices associated with three-flavour mixing, all of which have already been discussed in the literature. Only the infinite series contains mixing matrices which are compatible with the data at the 3 sigma level.
It has been suggested that residual symmetries in the charged-lepton and neutrino mass matrices can possibly reveal the flavour symmetry group of the lepton sector. We review the basic ideas of this purely group-theoretical approach and discuss some
of its results. Finally, we also list its shortcomings.
The recent enormous improvement of our knowledge of the neutrino oscillation parameters has motivated us to reinvestigate the allowed ranges of the elements of the neutrino mass matrix in the basis where the charged-lepton mass mass matrix is diagona
l. Moreover, we have studied the correlations of the elements of the neutrino mass matrix. The result of this analysis is useful for finding textures in the neutrino mass matrix and, therefore, for model building in the lepton sector. As an example, we present two textures of the neutrino mass matrix which have only two parameters and fit very well all current experimental data on the neutrino parameters.
We investigate the possibility that the first column of the lepton mixing matrix U is given by u_1 = (2,-1,-1)^T/sqrt{6}. In a purely group-theoretical approach, based on residual symmetries in the charged-lepton and neutrino sectors and on a theorem
on vanishing sums of roots of unity, we discuss the finite groups which can enforce this. Assuming that there is only one residual symmetry in the Majorana neutrino mass matrix, we find the almost unique solution Z_q x S_4 where the cyclic factor Z_q with q = 1,2,3,... is irrelevant for obtaining u_1 in U. Our discussion also provides a natural mechanism for achieving this goal. Finally, barring vacuum alignment, we realize this mechanism in a class of renormalizable models.
