Abstract
The extraction of neutrino mixing parameters from accelerator-based neutrino oscillation experiments relies on proper modeling of neutrino-nucleus scattering processes using neutrino-interaction event generators. Experimental tests of these generators are difficult due to the broad range of neutrino energies produced in accelerator-based beams and the low statistics of current experiments. Here we overcome these difficulties by exploiting the similarity of neutrino and electron interactions with nuclei to test neutrino event generators using high-precision inclusive electron scattering data. To this end, we revised the electron-scattering mode of the GENIE event generator ($e$-GENIE) to include electron-nucleus bremsstrahlung radiation effects and to use, when relevant, the exact same physics models and model parameters, as the standard neutrino-scattering version. We also implemented new models for quasielastic (QE) scattering and meson exchange currents (MEC) based on the theory-inspired SuSAv2 approach. Comparing the new $e$-GENIE predictions with inclusive electron scattering data, we find an overall adequate description of the data in the QE- and MEC-dominated lower energy transfer regime, especially when using the SuSAv2 models. Higher energy transfer-interactions, which are dominated by resonance production, are still not well modeled by $e$-GENIE.
Highlights
The extraction of neutrino mixing parameters from neutrino-oscillation experiments [1,2,3] relies on comparing the energy-dependent neutrino event distribution for a particular neutrino flavor near the neutrino production point with that at a significant distance away
Comparing the new electron-scattering mode of the GENIE event generator (e-GENIE) predictions with inclusive electron-scattering data, we find an overall adequate description of the data in the QE- and meson exchange currents (MECs)-dominated lower energy transfer regime, especially when using the SuSAv2 models
We focus on testing our knowledge of the electron-nucleus cross section by benchmarking e-GENIE against existing inclusive electron scattering data for different target nuclei, beam energies, and scattering angles
Summary
The extraction of neutrino mixing parameters from neutrino-oscillation experiments [1,2,3] relies on comparing the energy-dependent neutrino event distribution for a particular neutrino flavor near the neutrino production point with that at a significant distance away. References [11,12] showed that inclusive neutrino MEC cross sections can be calculated directly from the structure functions in their electron-scattering counterparts if the interacting system is nonrelativistic and if only transverse response functions (i.e., those which concern the spatial components of the current transverse to the direction of momentum transfer) contribute to the cross section. This latter assumption is justified for electron MEC interactions by microscopic studies [11] and electron-scattering data analyses. We focus on testing our knowledge of the electron-nucleus cross section by benchmarking e-GENIE against existing inclusive electron scattering data for different target nuclei, beam energies, and scattering angles. If e-GENIE describes electron-nucleus scattering well, it would be an improvement on the former empirical fit [18] and would be valuable for helping simulate a variety of electron experiments
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