Generalized permutation symmetry and the flavour problem inSU(2)L×U(1)

A generalized permutation group is introduced as a possible horizontal symmetry forSU(2)_L×U(1) gauge theories. It leads to the unique two generation quark mass matrices with a correct prediction for the Cabibbo angle. For three generations the model exhibits spontaneousCP violation, correlates the Kobayashi-Maskawa mixing parameterss ₁ ands ₃ and predicts an upper bound for the running top quark mass of approximately 45 GeV. The hierarchy of generations is due to a hierarchy of vacuum expectation values rather than of Yukawa coupling constants.