Interpretation of the Neutrino-Nucleus Cross Section

TL;DR

This paper examines how different models of neutrino-nucleus interactions can appear similar due to their assumptions and approximations, and suggests using electron-nucleus scattering data to distinguish the underlying reaction mechanisms.

Contribution

It highlights the degeneracy between models and proposes a method to identify reaction mechanisms using electron scattering data beyond inclusive measurements.

Findings

Models can appear similar despite different assumptions.

Electron scattering data can clarify reaction mechanisms.

Spectral function information aids model discrimination.

Abstract

I discuss the near-degeneracy between models of neutrino-nucleus interactions based on diverse assumptions, and analyze a specific example illustrating how the different reaction mechanisms taken into account, as well as the approximations associated with their implementation, may conspire to make the prediction of two models look similar. I argue that the relevant reaction mechanisms may be unambiguously identified exploiting the availability of electron-nucleus scattering data other than inclusive cross sections, providing detailed information on the nuclear spectral function.