Optimizing the description of the Delta region in the Ghent Hybrid model for single-pion production

TL;DR

This paper enhances the Ghent model for single-pion production in neutrino interactions by applying physical constraints, unitarization, and form factor modifications, leading to better agreement with experimental data.

Contribution

It introduces a physically constrained, unitarized extension of the Ghent model for Delta-region pion production with fewer fitted parameters.

Findings

Improved description of the Delta peak region in pion production.

Model modifications align better with CLAS electroproduction data.

Inclusion of rho- and omega-exchange diagrams enhances model accuracy.

Abstract

Single-pion production is an important contribution to the total neutrino-nucleus interaction cross section in accelerator-based neutrino oscillation experiments. The goal of this paper is to improve the Ghent model in the Delta resonance region by incorporating as many physical constraints as possible while keeping the number of fitted parameters as low as possible. A multipole decomposition of the model is performed allowing the use of $K$-matrix theory to unitarize the background contributions. Watson's theorem is enforced by consistently modifying both the Delta and background contributions across all multipoles. Furthermore, the decay width and form factors of the Delta contribution are modified to ensure compliance with Watson's theorem, while the model is extended to include $\rho$- and $\omega$-exchange diagrams. These adjustments are compared with other pion production models, as well as with CLAS pion electroproduction data on the nucleon. The results show considerable improvement in the description of the Delta peak region.