# Flavor Gauge Models Below the Fermi Scale

## TL;DR

This paper proposes a model with a new gauge symmetry acting on the third quark generation, explaining their mass and interaction alignment, and explores its experimental constraints and potential signals.

## Contribution

It introduces a renormalizable, flavor-nonuniversal gauge model with a light $X$ boson linked to $B-L$ symmetry of the third family, and analyzes its phenomenological implications.

## Key findings

- The model is consistent with current experimental constraints for $g_X$ in the range $(10^{-2} - 10^{-4})$.
- Identifies key experimental probes such as meson decays, mixing, and neutrino experiments.
- Outlines potential tests in $b$ physics, collider experiments, and neutrino oscillations.

## Abstract

The mass and weak interaction eigenstates for the quarks of the third generation are very well aligned, an empirical fact for which the Standard Model offers no explanation. We explore the possibility that this alignment is due to an additional gauge symmetry in the third generation. Specifically, we construct and analyze an explicit, renormalizable model with a gauge boson, $X$, corresponding to the $B-L$ symmetry of the third family. Having a relatively light (in the MeV to multi-GeV range), flavor-nonuniversal gauge boson results in a variety of constraints from different sources. By systematically analyzing 20 different constraints, we identify the most sensitive probes: kaon, $B^+$, $D^+$ and Upsilon decays, $D-\bar{D}^0$ mixing, atomic parity violation, and neutrino scattering and oscillations. For the new gauge coupling $g_X$ in the range $(10^{-2} - 10^{-4})$ the model is shown to be consistent with the data. Possible ways of testing the model in $b$ physics, top and $Z$ decays, direct collider production and neutrino oscillation experiments, where one can observe nonstandard matter effects, are outlined. The choice of leptons to carry the new force is ambiguous, resulting in additional phenomenological implications, such as non-universality in semileptonic bottom decays. The proposed framework provides interesting connections between neutrino oscillations, flavor and collider physics.