Neutrino-induced meson productions

TL;DR

This paper develops a dynamical coupled-channels model for neutrino-nucleon reactions, accurately describing single- and double-pion production in the resonance region, aiding neutrino experiment analysis.

Contribution

It extends a previous DCC model to neutrino reactions, deriving axial-current matrix elements via PCAC, and calculates double-pion production cross sections for the first time.

Findings

Calculated neutrino-induced single-pion cross sections agree with data.

First-time calculation of double-pion production cross sections in the resonance region.

Model provides a useful input for neutrino-nucleus reaction simulations.

Abstract

We develop a dynamical coupled-channels (DCC) model for neutrino-nucleon reactions in the resonance region, by extending the DCC model that we have previously developed through an analysis of $\pi N, \gamma N\to \pi N, \eta N, K\Lambda, K\Sigma$ reaction data for $W\le 2.1$ GeV. We analyze electron-induced reaction data for both proton and neutron targets to determine the vector current form factors up to $Q^2\le$ 3.0 (GeV/$c$)$^2$. Axial-current matrix elements are derived in accordance with the Partially Conserved Axial Current (PCAC) relation to the $\pi N$ interactions of the DCC model. As a result, we can uniquely determine the interference pattern between resonant and non-resonant amplitudes. Our calculated cross sections for neutrino-induced single-pion productions are compared with available data, and are found to be in reasonable agreement with the data. We also calculate the double-pion production cross sections in the resonance region, for the first time, with relevant resonance contributions and channel couplings. The result is compared with the double-pion production data. For a future development of a neutrino-nucleus reaction model and/or a neutrino event generator for analyses of neutrino experiments, the DCC model presented here can give a useful input.