First Simultaneous Measurement of Differential Muon-Neutrino Charged-Current Cross Sections on Argon for Final States...

Area of Science:

• Particle Physics
• Nuclear Physics
• Experimental Physics

Background:

• Neutrino cross-section measurements are crucial for understanding neutrino interactions.
• Accurate modeling of neutrino interactions is essential for interpreting data from neutrino oscillation experiments.
• Previous measurements have had limitations in precisely characterizing final states, particularly those involving protons.

Purpose of the Study:

• To perform the first double-differential measurement of the neutrino-argon cross section for inclusive muon neutrino charged-current interactions.
• To investigate the proton kinematics in these interactions with a differential cross section measurement.
• To validate and improve neutrino interaction models used in experimental analyses.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the MicroBooNE detector with 6.4×10^{20} protons on target.
• Measured cross sections for final states with and without protons.
• Employed data-driven model validation using conditional constraint formalism and empirical reweighting.
• Analyzed neutrino interactions from the Fermilab booster neutrino beam with a mean energy of ~0.8 GeV.

Main Results:

• Reported the first double-differential neutrino-argon cross section for muon neutrino charged-current interactions.
• Observed significant discrepancies between measured cross sections and predictions from widely used event generators for final states without protons.
• Demonstrated potential mismodeling in event generators, possibly due to inadequate treatment of final state interactions.

Conclusions:

• The measurements provide critical new data for refining neutrino interaction models.
• Improved event generators will enhance the precision of future neutrino physics measurements.
• The findings highlight the need for better simulation of final state interactions in neutrino event generators.