Parametrizing the Neutrino sector

TL;DR

This paper reviews the seesaw mechanism for neutrino mass generation, introduces a parametrization highlighting small mass ratios, and discusses plans for collider-related calculations involving singlet fermions.

Contribution

It proposes a new parametrization of the seesaw mechanism that explicitly shows the smallness of neutrino mass ratios for any number of singlet fermions.

Findings

A new parametrization of the seesaw mechanism

Plans for LHC process calculations involving singlet fermions

Enhanced understanding of neutrino mass smallness

Abstract

The original Standard Model has massless neutrinos, but the observation of neutrino oscillations requires that neutrinos are massive. The simple extension of adding gauge singlet fermions to the particle spectrum allows normal Yukawa mass terms for neutrinos. The seesaw mechanism then suggests an explanation for the observed smallness of the neutrino masses. After reviewing the framework of the seesaw we suggest a parametrization that directly exhibits the smallness of the mass ratios in the seesaw for an arbitrary number of singlet fermions and we present our plans to perform calculations for a process that might be studied at the LHC.