Minimal Structure for Neutrino Mass Matrix

Abstract Taking a clue from the minimal structure of texture 4-zero Hermitian mass matrices, which are very successful in accommodating quark mixing data, we propose a form of texture 2-zero complex symmetric neutrino mass matrix with only one phase parameter. This minimal mass matrix not only accommodates the available neutrino oscillation data, but also makes interesting predictions for the unknown parameters like the lightest neutrino mass $m_{\nu _1}$ (for normal ordering), Jarlskog’s rephasing-invariant $J_{\mathrm{ CP}}$, the Dirac-type CP-violating phase $\delta _{\mathrm{ CP}}$, and the effective neutrino mass $\langle m_{ee} \rangle $. We also explore the correlations between the parameters of the model, which lead us to minimizing the parameters further.