A universal implementation of radiative effects in neutrino event generators

TL;DR

This paper introduces a universal radiative corrections program applicable to all electron-nucleus scattering models, enhancing the accuracy of neutrino event generator comparisons and future neutrino experiment analyses.

Contribution

A novel, universal radiative corrections implementation compatible with all reaction mechanisms and $eA$ event generators, validated with GENIE and extendable to neutrino scattering.

Findings

Validated with GENIE for electron scattering

Facilitates data and event generator comparisons

Enables improved neutrino event modeling

Abstract

Due to the similarities between electron-nucleus ($eA$) and neutrino-nucleus scattering ($\nu A$), $eA$ data can contribute key information to improve cross-section modeling in $eA$ and hence in $\nu A$ event generators. However, to compare data and generated events, either the data must be radiatively corrected or radiative effects need to be included in the event generators. We implemented a universal radiative corrections program that can be used with all reaction mechanisms and any $eA$ event generator. Our program includes real photon radiation by the incident and scattered electrons, and virtual photon exchange and photon vacuum polarization diagrams. It uses the ``extended peaking" approximation for electron radiation and neglects charged hadron radiation. This method, validated with GENIE, can also be extended to simulate $\nu A$ radiative effects. This work facilitates data-event-generator comparisons used to improve $\nu A$ event generators for the next-generation of neutrino experiments.