Measurements of differential charged-current cross sections on argon for electron neutrinos with final-state protons in MicroBooNE

TL;DR

This paper reports measurements of electron-neutrino charged-current interactions on argon in MicroBooNE, providing differential cross sections and total cross section estimates, and compares results with neutrino interaction models.

Contribution

First measurement of differential charged-current electron-neutrino cross sections on argon with final-state protons in MicroBooNE.

Findings

Total cross section measured as (4.1 ± 0.3 (stat.) ± 1.1 (syst.)) × 10^{-39} cm^2/nucleon.

Good agreement between measured cross sections and neutrino event generator predictions.

Interaction rate as a function of proton multiplicity reported.

Abstract

This work presents single-differential electron-neutrino charged-current cross sections on argon measured using the MicroBooNE detector at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. The analysis uses data recorded when the Neutrinos at the Main Injector beam was operating in both neutrino and antineutrino modes, with exposures of $2 \times 10^{20}$ and $5 \times 10^{20}$ protons on target, respectively. A selection algorithm targeting electron-neutrino charged-current interactions with at least one proton, one electron, and no pions in the final topology is used to measure differential cross sections as a function of outgoing electron energy, total visible energy, and opening angle between the electron and the most energetic proton. The interaction rate as a function of proton multiplicity is also reported. The total cross section is measured as [4.1 $\pm$ 0.3 (stat.) $\pm$ 1.1 (syst.)]$ $$\times 10^{-39} \mathrm{cm}^{2}/ \mathrm{nucleon}$. The unfolded cross-section measurements are compared to predictions from neutrino event generators commonly employed in the field. Good agreement is seen across all variables within uncertainties.