Snowmass Neutrino Frontier: Neutrino Interaction Cross Sections (NF06) Topical Group Report

TL;DR

This report emphasizes the importance of understanding neutrino cross sections across a wide energy spectrum for neutrino physics, highlighting current knowledge gaps and the need for theoretical and indirect measurements to support experiments like DUNE.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive summary of the current status of neutrino cross section knowledge and outlines experimental and theoretical needs across various energy ranges.

Findings

Limited direct measurements of neutrino cross sections across energies

Need for theoretical models and indirect measurements like electron scattering

Current and planned experiments require improved cross section data

Abstract

A thorough understanding of neutrino cross sections in a wide range of energies is crucial for the successful execution of the entire neutrino physics program. In order to extract neutrino properties, long-baseline experiments need an accurate determination of neutrino cross sections within their detector(s). Since very few of the needed neutrino cross sections across the energy spectrum are directly measured, we emphasize the need for theoretical input and indirect measurements such as electron scattering, which would complement direct measurements. In this report we briefly summarize the current status of our knowledge of the neutrino cross sections and articulate needs of the experiments, ongoing and planned, at energies ranging from CEvNS and supernova neutrino energies to the DUNE and atmospheric neutrino energies.