Spontaneous CP violation and leptogenesis in minimal flavour models

Abstract

We consider a type-I seesaw framework extended by a scalar singlet whose vacuum expectation value (VEV) breaks CP spontaneously. The singlet VEV phase provides a common origin for low-energy leptonic CP violation and the high energy CP violation needed to generate the observed baryon asymmetry of the Universe (BAU) through leptogenesis. We identify two minimal flavour models based on a discrete $\mathcal{Z}_4$ symmetry, whose neutrino flavour structure is encoded entirely in the heavy Majorana mass matrix. Both models predict $δ\simeq 3π/2$, a definite octant for the atmospheric $θ_{23}$ mixing angle, and lower bounds of approximately $60~\mathrm{meV}$ ($50~\mathrm{meV}$) on the lightest neutrino mass and the effective Majorana mass $m_{ββ}$ for normal (inverted) ordering, within reach of future neutrinoless double-beta decay searches. We study scalar-singlet assisted leptogenesis in the non-resonant regime, including new decay, scattering, and washout processes involving the heavy scalars, as well as their contributions to the CP asymmetries. By solving the unflavoured Boltzmann equations, we identify the regions of parameter space in which the minimal flavour models successfully account for the observed BAU.