Models of Neutrino Mass with a Low Cutoff Scale

Abstract

In theories with a low quantum gravity scale, global symmetries are expected to be violated, inducing excessive proton decay or large Majorana neutrino masses. The simplest cure is to impose discrete gauge symmetries, which in turn make neutrinos massless. We construct models that employ these gauge symmetries while naturally generating small neutrino masses. Majorana (Dirac) neutrino masses are generated through the breaking of a discrete (continuous) gauge symmetry at low energies, e.g., 2 keV to 1 GeV. The Majorana case predicts \Delta N_\nu \simeq 1 at BBN, neutrinoless double beta decay with scalar emission, and modifications to the CMB anisotropies from domain walls in the universe as well as providing a possible Dark Energy candidate. For the Dirac case, despite the presence of a new light gauge boson, all laboratory, astrophysical, and cosmological constraints can be avoided.