Deciphering the Seesaw Nature of Neutrino Mass from Unitarity Violation

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If neutrino masses are obtained via the canonical seesaw mechanism, based on an underlying 2X2 mass matrix, unitarity violation of the neutrino mixing matrix is unavoidable, but its effect is extremely small. On the other hand, in the inverse (and linear) seesaw mechanisms, based on an underlying 3X3 mass matrix, it can be significant and possibly observable. This 3X3 matrix is examined in more detail, and a NEW variation (the lopsided seesaw) is proposed which has features of both mechanisms. A concrete example based on U(1)ₙ is discussed.