Reduction of $SU_f(3)\supset SO(3)\supset A_4$ -- The scalar potential
  We examine the possibility of the flavor symmetry being $SU_f(3)$ in which the phenomenologically successful discreet symmetry $A_4$ is embedded. The allowed quadratic and quartic potentials are constructed exploiting the full symmetry chain $SU(3)\supset SO(4)\supset A_4$. The spontaneous symmetry breaking involving the $SU(3)$ octet scalar fields is analyzed. 
J. D. Vergados (ARC Centre of Excellence in Particle Physics at the   Terascale and Centre for the Subatomic Structure of Ma...
physics.gen-ph hep-th