Generalized permutation symmetry and the flavour problem in SU(2)subLxU(1)

A generalized permutation group is introduced as a possible horizontal symmetry for SU(2)subL x 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 spontaneous CP violation, correlates the Kobyashi-Maskawa mixing parameters s1 and s3 and predicts an upper bouond 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. (Author)