Meson Exchange Current (MEC) Models in Neutrino Interaction Generators

TL;DR

This paper discusses the modeling of meson exchange current (MEC) effects in neutrino interaction generators, crucial for understanding 2p-2h processes that impact neutrino oscillation experiments.

Contribution

It provides an overview of how MEC processes, responsible for 2p-2h effects, are modeled in current neutrino interaction simulation tools.

Findings

MEC models are essential for accurate neutrino interaction simulations.

Current models aim to replicate 2p-2h effects observed in experiments.

Implementation of MEC in generators helps interpret experimental excesses.

Abstract

Understanding of the so-called 2 particle-2 hole (2p-2h) effect is an urgent program in neutrino interaction physics for current and future oscillation experiments. Such processes are believed to be responsible for the event excesses observed by recent neutrino experiments. The 2p-2h effect is dominated by the meson exchange current (MEC), and is accompanied by a 2-nucleon emission from the primary vertex, instead of a single nucleon emission from the charged-current quasi-elastic (CCQE) interaction. Current and future high resolution experiments can potentially nail down this effect. For this reason, there are world wide efforts to model and implement this process in neutrino interaction simulations. In these proceedings, I would like to describe how this channel is modeled in neutrino interaction generators.