On extraction of value of axial mass from MiniBooNE neutrino quasi-elastic double differential cross section data

TL;DR

This paper analyzes MiniBooNE neutrino quasi-elastic scattering data using two nuclear models to accurately extract the axial mass, showing that the value depends on the momentum transfer cut and excluding certain previous estimates.

Contribution

It provides a refined method for extracting the axial mass from experimental data by accounting for flux uncertainty and momentum transfer cuts, improving the reliability of the measurement.

Findings

Best fit axial mass decreases with stricter momentum transfer cuts.

Values around 1350 MeV are consistent with data, excluding 1030 MeV beyond 5 sigma.

Theoretical models agree within uncertainties on the axial mass estimate.

Abstract

MiniBooNE charge current quasi-elastic double differential cross section data are analyzed and confronted with predictions of two theoretical nucleus models: Fermi gas and spectral function. The fitting procedure includes the overall flux uncertainty multiplicative factor. In order to obtain a reliable value of the axial mass, bins with large contribution from small momentum transfer are eliminated from the analysis. It is shown that the best fit axial mass value becomes smaller as the momentum transfer cut is more restrictive. For $q_{cut}=500$~MeV/c the obtained values of axial mass are $M_A=1350\pm 66$~MeV for the Fermi gas and $M_A=1343\pm 60$~MeV for the spectral function. The value $M_A=1030$~MeV is excluded on the level which goes far beyond $5\sigma$.