First Measurement of Differential Charged Current Quasielasticlike ν_{μ}-Argon Scattering Cross Sections with the...

Area of Science:

• Particle Physics
• Nuclear Physics
• Astrophysics

Background:

• Neutrino interactions are fundamental to understanding nuclear processes and the universe.
• Precise measurements of neutrino cross sections are crucial for interpreting results from neutrino oscillation experiments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the first measurement of flux-integrated single differential cross sections for charged-current muon neutrino scattering on argon.
• To characterize ^{40}Ar (ν_{μ},μp)X interactions, enhancing charged-current quasielastic (CCQE) scattering events.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Booster Neutrino Beam at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.
• Employed the MicroBooNE liquid argon time projection chamber detector with a 4.59×10^{19} protons on target exposure.
• Selected events to isolate CCQE-like interactions producing a muon and a proton.

Main Results:

• Measured the integrated per-nucleus CCQE-like cross section to be (4.93±0.76_{stat}±1.29_{sys})×10^{-38} cm^{2}.
• Reported single differential cross sections in terms of final state muon and proton kinematics.
• Observed good agreement with theoretical calculations, with a noted discrepancy at very forward muon scattering angles (low momentum transfer).

Conclusions:

• The measured cross sections are in good agreement with theoretical predictions, validating models of neutrino-argon interactions.
• The results provide essential data for refining theoretical models and improving the precision of future neutrino experiments.
• Discrepancies at low momentum transfer highlight areas for further theoretical and experimental investigation.