Nuclear theory and event generators for charge-changing neutrino reactions

Abstract

Semi-inclusive $\mathrm{CC}\ensuremath{\nu}$ cross sections based on factorized cross sections are studied for a selection of spectral function models with the objective of facilitating the choice of models for use as input into event generators. The basic formalism for such cross sections is presented along with an introduction to constructing spectral functions for simple models based on the independent-particle shell model, the relativistic Fermi gas model (RFG), and a local density approximation (LDA) based on the RFG. Spectral functions for these models are shown for $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ along with a more sophisticated model which includes nucleon-nucleon interactions [Alvarez-Ruso et al., Prog. Part. Nucl. Phys. 100, 1 (2018)]. Inclusive and semi-inclusive cross sections are calculated for these models. Although the inclusive cross sections are all of similar size and shape, the semi-inclusive cross sections are substantially different depending upon whether the spectral functions contain some features associated with the nuclear shell model or are based on the RFG and LDA models. Calculations of average values and standard deviations of the initial neutrino energy using the semi-inclusive cross section for the various models are presented and indicate that there may be simple kinematical descriptions of the average neutrino energy which is common to all of these models.