Measurement of d2sigma/d|q|dEavail in charged current neutrino-nucleus interactions at <Ev> = 1.86 GeV using the NOvA Near Detector

TL;DR

This paper reports detailed measurements of charged-current neutrino-nucleus scattering cross sections at an average neutrino energy of 1.86 GeV using the NOvA Near Detector, highlighting discrepancies with existing theoretical models, especially for 2p2h processes.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed differential cross-section measurements in this energy range and evaluates the accuracy of current 2p2h models against experimental data.

Findings

Measured cross sections in the 0-2 GeV/c momentum transfer range.

Identified excess in data indicating 2p2h processes not fully captured by models.

Observed shortfalls in Val`encia and SuSAv2 2p2h model predictions.

Abstract

Double- and single-differential cross sections for inclusive charged-current neutrino-nucleus scattering are reported for the kinematic domain 0 to 2 GeV/c in three-momentum transfer and 0 to 2 GeV in available energy, at a mean muon-neutrino energy of 1.86 GeV. The measurements are based on an estimated 995,760 muon-neutrino CC interactions in the scintillator medium of the NOvA Near Detector. The subdomain populated by 2-particle-2-hole reactions is identified by the cross-section excess relative to predictions for neutrino-nucleus scattering that are constrained by a data control sample. Models for 2-particle-2- hole processes are rated by chi-square comparisons of the predicted-versus-measured muon-neutrino CC inclusive cross section over the full phase space and in the restricted subdomain. Shortfalls are observed in neutrino generator predictions obtained using the theory-based Val`encia and SuSAv2 2p2h models.