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Frugal $U(1)_X$ models with non-minimal flavor violation for $b \to s \ell \ell$ anomalies and neutrino mixing

We analyze the class of models with an extra $U(1)_X$ gauge symmetry that can account for the $b \to s \ell \ell$ anomalies by modifying the Wilson coefficients $C_{9e}$ and $C_{9μ}$ from their standard model values. At the same time, these models generate appropriate quark mixing, and give rise to neutrino mixing via the Type-I seesaw mechanism. Apart from the gauge boson $Z'$, these frugal models only have three right-handed neutrinos for the seesaw mechanism, an additional $SU(2)_L$ scalar doublet for quark mixing, and a SM-singlet scalar that breaks the $U(1)_X$ symmetry. This set-up identifies a class of leptonic symmetries, and necessitates non-zero but equal charges for the first two quark generations. If the quark mixing beyond the standard model were CKM-like, all these symmetries would be ruled out by the latest flavor constraints on Wilson coefficients and collider constraints on $Z'$ parameters. However, we identify a single-parameter source of non-minimal flavor violation that allows a wider class of $U(1)_X$ symmetries to be compatible with all data. We show that the viable leptonic symmetries have to be of the form $L_e \pm 3 L_μ- L_τ$ or $L_e - 3 L_μ+ L_τ$, and determine the $(M_{Z^\prime}, g_{Z^\prime})$ parameter space that may be probed by the high-luminosity data at the LHC.