Models of Supersymmetric $U(2)\times U(1)$ Flavor Symmetry

Abstract

We use a $U(2)\times U(1)$ horizontal symmetry in order to construct supersymmetric models where the flavor structure of both quarks and leptons is induced naturally. The supersymmetric flavor changing neutral currents problem is solved by the degeneracy between sfermions induced by the U(2) symmetry. The additional U(1) enables the generation of mass ratios that cannot be generated by U(2) alone. The resulting phenomenology differs from that of models with either abelian or $U(2)\times GUT$ symmetries. Our models give rise to interesting neutrino spectra, which can incorporate the Super-Kamiokande results regarding atmospheric neutrinos.