On Lepton and Baryon Numbers as Local Gauge Symmetries

TL;DR

This paper proposes a simple gauge theory where lepton and baryon numbers are local symmetries, predicting Majorana neutrinos and a 3+2 neutrino sector, with spontaneous symmetry breaking at low scales.

Contribution

It introduces a minimal anomaly-free gauge theory for lepton and baryon numbers, predicting Majorana neutrinos and a specific neutrino sector structure.

Findings

Predicts Majorana neutrinos

Proposes a 3+2 light neutrino sector

Allows spontaneous breaking of lepton and baryon numbers

Abstract

A simple theory where the total lepton number is a local gauge symmetry is proposed. In this context, the gauge anomalies are cancelled with the minimal number of extra fermionic fields and one predicts that the neutrinos are Majorana fermions. The properties of the neutrino sector are discussed showing that this theory predicts a $3+2$ light neutrino sector. We show that using the same fermionic fields one can gauge the baryon number and define a simple theory where the lepton and baryon numbers can be spontaneously broken at the low scale in agreement with experiments.