Measurements of production and inelastic cross sections for $\mbox{p}+\mbox{C}$, $\mbox{p}+\mbox{Be}$, and $\mbox{p}+\mbox{Al}$ at 60 GeV/$c$ and $\mbox{p}+\mbox{C}$ and $\mbox{p}+\mbox{Be}$ at 120 GeV/$c$

TL;DR

This study reports new measurements of production and inelastic cross sections for proton interactions with C, Be, and Al targets at 60 and 120 GeV/c, providing essential data for neutrino flux predictions in accelerator experiments.

Contribution

It provides the first measurements at 120 GeV/c and compares 60 GeV/c results with previous data, enhancing the understanding of proton-nucleus interactions.

Findings

Measured cross sections for p+C, p+Be, p+Al at 60 GeV/c

Measured cross sections for p+C, p+Be at 120 GeV/c

Results improve neutrino flux modeling accuracy

Abstract

This paper presents measurements of production cross sections and inelastic cross sections for the following reactions: 60 GeV/$c$ protons with C, Be, Al targets and 120 GeV/$c$ protons with C and Be targets. The analysis was performed using the NA61/SHINE spectrometer at the CERN SPS. First measurements were obtained using protons at 120 GeV/$c$, while the results for protons at 60 GeV/$c$ were compared with previously published measurements. These interaction cross section measurements are critical inputs for neutrino flux prediction in current and future accelerator-based long-baseline neutrino experiments.