Comparison of GiBUU calculations with MiniBooNE pion production data

TL;DR

This paper compares GiBUU model calculations with MiniBooNE neutrino-induced pion production data, analyzing the impact of model parameters and final state interactions on cross sections and pion distributions.

Contribution

It provides a detailed comparison of GiBUU predictions with experimental data, highlighting the effects of various processes and uncertainties in pion production modeling.

Findings

All processes contribute to the observed final state with one pion.

Uncertainty in elementary pion production affects nuclear cross sections.

Final state interactions significantly alter pion distribution shapes.

Abstract

Background. Neutrino-induced pion production can give important informationon the axial coupling to nucleon resonances. Furthermore, pion production represents a major background to quasielastic-like events. Single pion production data from the MiniBooNE in charged current neutrino scattering in mineral oil appeared higher than expected within conventional theoretical approaches. Purpose. We aim to investigate which model parameters affect the calculated cross section and how they do this. Method. The Giessen Boltzmann--Uehling--Uhlenbeck (GiBUU) model is used for an investigation of neutrino-nucleus reactions. Results. Presented are integrated and differential cross sections for 1\pi^+ and 1\pi^0 production before and after final state interactions in comparison with the MiniBooNE data. Conclusions. For the MiniBooNE flux all processes (QE, 1\pi-background, \Delta, higher resonance production, DIS) contribute to the observed final state with one pion of a given charge. The uncertainty in elementary pion production cross sections leads to a corresponding uncertainty in the nuclear cross sections. Final state interactions change the shape of the muon-related observables only slightly, but they significantly change the shape of pion distributions.