Electron versus Muon Neutrino Induced Cross Sections in Charged Current Quasielastic Processes

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Physics
• Particle Physics
• High Energy Physics

Background:

• Neutrino oscillation analyses and CP violation searches rely on precise understanding of neutrino cross sections.
• Experimental data for the ratio of electron neutrino (ν_{e}) to muon neutrino (ν_{μ}) quasielastic cross sections is limited.
• Theoretical models provide conflicting predictions for this ratio in specific kinematic regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the ratio of ν_{e} and ν_{μ} quasielastic cross sections using ^{40}Ar and ^{12}C targets.
• To resolve theoretical discrepancies regarding this cross section ratio.
• To provide insights for future neutrino experiments like DUNE and T2HK.

Main Methods:

• Employed two independent mean-field based theoretical models.
• Calculated quasielastic scattering cross sections for both ν_{e} and ν_{μ}.
• Analyzed the impact of final state nucleon wave function treatments.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated the dominance of ν_{μ} over ν_{e} induced cross sections at forward lepton scattering angles.
• Confirmed theoretical predictions using advanced nuclear models.
• Provided a more robust understanding of the ν_{e}/ν_{μ} cross section ratio.

Conclusions:

• Accurate treatment of the final nucleon's wave function is critical for predicting neutrino cross section ratios.
• The findings support the dominance of ν_{μ} in quasielastic interactions at forward scattering.
• This work contributes essential theoretical data for interpreting neutrino oscillation experiments.