ar X iv : h ep - p h / 02 07 01 8 v 1 1 J ul 2 00 2 On the hierarchy of neutrino masses ∗

We present a model of neutrino masses combining the seesaw mechanism and strong Dirac mass hierarchy and at the same time exhibiting a significantly reduced hierarchy at the level of active neutrino masses. The heavy Majorana masses are assumed to be degenerate. The suppression of the hierarchy is due to a symmetric and unitary operator R whose role is discussed. The model gives realistic mixing and mass spectrum. The mixing of atmospheric neutrinos is attributed to the charged lepton sector whereas the mixing of solar neutrinos is due to the neutrino sector. Small Ue3 is a consequence of the model. The masses of the active neutrinos are given by µ3 ≈ ∆m 2 @ and µ1/µ2 ≈ tan 2 θ⊙.