Neutrino Masses with Inverse Hierarchy from Broken L_e-L_\mu-L_\tau: a Reappraisal

Abstract

We discuss a class of models of neutrino masses and mixings with inverse hierarchy based on a broken U(1)_F flavour symmetry with charge L_e-L_\mu-L_\tau for lepton doublets and arbitrary right-handed charges. The symmetry breaking sector receives separate contributions from flavon vev breaking terms and from soft mass breaking in the right handed Majorana sector. The model is able to reproduce in a natural way all observed features of the charged lepton mass spectrum and of neutrino masses and mixings (even with arbitrarily small \theta_{13}), with the exception of a moderate fine tuning which is needed to accomodate the observed small value of r = Delta m^2_{sol} / Delta m^2_{atm}.