Theoretical description of semi-inclusive T2K, MINERνA and MicroBooNE neutrino-nucleus data in the relativistic plane wave impulse approximation

Abstract

We present the results of semi-inclusive neutrino-nucleus cross sections within the plane wave impulse approximation (PWIA) for three nuclear models: relativistic Fermi gas, independent-particle shell model, and natural orbital shell model in comparison with the available $\mathrm{CC}0\ensuremath{\pi}$ measurements from the T2K, $\mathrm{MINER}\ensuremath{\nu}\mathrm{A}$, and MicroBooNE collaborations where a muon and at least one proton are detected in the final state. Results are presented as a function of the momenta and angles of the final particles, as well as in terms of the imbalances between proton and muon kinematics. The present semi-inclusive formalism is based on fully relativistic microscopic calculations and numerical integrations to produce both lepton and hadron kinematics without relying on further approximations. The analysis reveals that contributions beyond PWIA are crucial to explain the experimental measurements and that the study of correlations between final-state proton and muon kinematics can provide valuable information on relevant nuclear effects such as the Fermi motion and final-state interactions.