Explicit Perturbations to the Stabilizer Τ = I of Modular $$ {a}_5^{\prime } $$ Symmetry and Leptonic CP Violation

Abstract In a class of neutrino mass models with modular flavor symmetries, it has been observed that CP symmetry is preserved at the fixed point (or stabilizer) of the modulus parameter τ = i, whereas significant CP violation emerges within the neighbourhood of this stabilizer. In this paper, we first construct a viable model with the modular $$ {A}_5^{\prime } $$ A 5 ′ symmetry, and explore the phenomenological implications for lepton masses and flavor mixing. Then, we introduce explicit perturbations to the stabilizer at τ = i, and present both numerical and analytical results to understand why a small deviation from the stabilizer leads to large CP violation. As low-energy observables are very sensitive to the perturbations to model parameters, we further demonstrate that the renormalization-group running effects play an important role in confronting theoretical predictions at the high-energy scale with experimental measurements at the low-energy scale.