Correlations in neutrino-nucleus scattering

TL;DR

This paper investigates how correlations affect neutrino-nucleus scattering, using a continuum RPA approach and implementing short-range correlations in the impulse approximation, validated against electron scattering data and applied to neutrino experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive model incorporating both long- and short-range correlations in neutrino-nucleus scattering calculations, validated with electron data and applied to recent neutrino measurements.

Findings

Long-range correlations significantly influence quasielastic cross sections.

Short-range correlations are effectively incorporated via operator shifts.

Model predictions align well with experimental data.

Abstract

We present a detailed study of charged-current quasielastic neutrino-nucleus scattering and of the influence of correlations on one- and two-nucleon knockout processes. The quasielastic neutrino-nucleus scattering cross sections, including the influence of long-range correlations, are evaluated within a continuum random phase approximation approach. The short-range correlation formalism is implemented in the impulse approximation by shifting the complexity induced by the correlations from the wave functions to the operators. The model is validated by confronting $(e,e^\prime)$ cross-section predictions with electron scattering data in the kinematic region where the quasielastic channel is expected to dominate. Further, the $^{12}$C$(\nu,\mu^-)$ experiments are studied. Double differential cross sections relevant for neutrino-oscillation $^{12}$C$(\nu,\mu^-)$ cross sections, accounting for long- and short-range correlations in the one-particle emission channel and short-range correlations in the two-particle two-hole channel, are presented for kinematics relevant for recent neutrino-nucleus scattering measurements.