Measurement of the inclusive $\nu_{\mu}$ charged current cross section on iron and hydrocarbon in the T2K on-axis neutrino beam

TL;DR

This paper measures the inclusive muon neutrino charged current cross sections on iron and hydrocarbon using the T2K neutrino beam, providing data that supports current neutrino interaction models and nuclear effect treatments.

Contribution

First measurement of inclusive $ u_$ charged current cross sections on iron and hydrocarbon at 1.51 GeV in the T2K beam, validating interaction models.

Findings

Cross sections on iron and hydrocarbon measured with high precision.

Results agree with neutrino interaction model predictions.

Confirmed correct treatment of nuclear effects in the model.

Abstract

We report a measurement of the $\nu_\mu$ inclusive charged current cross sections on iron and hydrocarbon in the T2K on-axis neutrino beam. The measured inclusive charged current cross sections on iron and hydrocarbon averaged over the T2K on-axis flux with a mean neutrino energy of 1.51 GeV are $(1.444\pm0.002(stat.)_{-0.157}^{+0.189}(syst.))\times 10^{-38}\mathrm{cm}^2/\mathrm{nucleon}$, and $(1.379\pm0.009(stat.)_{-0.147}^{+0.178}(syst.))\times 10^{-38}\mathrm{cm}^2/\mathrm{nucleon}$, respectively, and their cross section ratio is $1.047\pm0.007(stat.)\pm0.035(syst.)$. These results agree well with the predictions of the neutrino interaction model, and thus we checked the correct treatment of the nuclear effect for iron and hydrocarbon targets in the model within the measurement precisions.