Recent structure function results from neutrino scattering at Fermilab

TL;DR

This paper presents neutrino scattering measurements of structure functions F_2 and Delta xF_3 from Fermilab, providing new insights into heavy charm production models and resolving previous data discrepancies.

Contribution

First model-independent extraction of Delta xF_3 from neutrino scattering, testing heavy charm production theories and clarifying F_2 measurement discrepancies.

Findings

Delta xF_3 exceeds theoretical predictions

F_2 ratio between neutrino and muon scattering agrees with NLO models

Measurements of F_L and R reveal nuclear effects

Abstract

We report on the extraction of the structure functions F_2 and Delta xF_3 = xF_3(nu)-xF_3(nubar) from CCFR nu_mu-Fe and nubar_mu-Fe different ial cross sections. The extraction is performed in a physics model independent (PMI) way. This first measurement of Delta xF_3, which is useful in testing models of heavy charm production, is higher than current theoretical predictios. The ratio of the F_2 (PMI) values measured in nu_mu and mu scattering is in agreement (within 5%) with the NLO predictions using massive charm production schemes, thus resolving the long-standing discrepancy between the two sets of data. In addition, measurements of F_L (or, equivalently, R) and 2xF_1 are reported in the kinematic region where anomalous nuclear effects in R are observed at HERMES.