Gauged $SU(3)_F$ and loop induced quark and lepton masses

Abstract

We investigate a local $SU(3)_F$ flavour symmetry for its viability in generating the masses for the quarks and charged leptons of the first two families through radiative corrections. Only the third-generation fermions get tree-level masses due to specific choice of the field content and their gauge charges. Unprotected by symmetry, the remaining fermions acquire non-vanishing masses through the quantum corrections induced by the gauge bosons of broken $SU(3)_F$. We show that inter-generational hierarchy between the masses of the first two families arises if the flavour symmetry is broken with an intermediate $SU(2)$ leading to a specific ordering in the masses of the gauge bosons. Based on this scheme, we construct an explicit and predictive model and show its viability in reproducing the realistic charged fermion masses and quark mixing parameters in terms of not-so-hierarchical fundamental couplings. The model leads to the strange quark mass, $m_s \approx 16$ MeV at $M_Z$, which is $\sim 2.4 σ$ away from its current central value. Large flavour violations are a generic prediction of the scheme which pushes the masses of the new gauge bosons to $10^3$ TeV or higher.