Neutrino Cross Section Measurements Research Articles

Cross-section measurements in the NOMAD experiment

The NOMAD experiment collected valuable neutrino data samples, matching both the large statistics of massive calorimeters and the reconstruction quality of bubble chambers. This paper describes the recent measurements of neutrino cross-sections on carbon target. The approach followed for cross-section modeling is also explained.

Precise measurement of neutrino and antineutrino differential cross sections

The NuTeV experiment at Fermilab has obtained a unique high statistics sample of neutrino and anti-neutrino interactions using its high-energy sign-selected beam. We present a measurement of the differential cross section for charged-current neutrino and anti-neutrino scattering from iron. Structure functions, F_2(x,Q^2) and xF_3(x,Q^2), are determined by fitting the inelasticity, y, dependence of the cross sections. This measurement has significantly improved systematic precision as a consequence of more precise understanding of hadron and muon energy scales.

NEUTRINO PHYSICS AT SHORT BASELINE

Neutrino oscillation searches at short baseline (defined as ≲ 1 km) have investigated oscillations with Δm2 ≳ 0.1 eV 2. One positive signal, from the LSND collaboration, exists and is being tested by the MiniBooNE experiment. Neutrino cross-section measurements are being made, which will be important for reducing systematic errors in present and future oscillation measurements.

Low-Energy Neutrino Cross-Section Measurements at SNS

We discuss the proposal to build a neutrino facility at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) presently under construction at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). This facility can host an extensive, long-term program to study neutrino-nucleus cross-sections in the range of interest for nuclear astrophysics and nuclear theory.

The Design and Performance of the MINERνA Detector

The MINERνA experiment is designed to make precision measurements of various neutrino cross sections in the low energy regime. We describe the detector and give the performance of some of the measured quantities.

Neutrino cross section measurements at MiniBooNE

MiniBooNE (Booster Neutrino Experiment) is accumulating a large sample of O ( 1 GeV ) ν μ interactions in the neutrino beam produced by the 8 GeV Booster synchrotron at Fermilab. Analyses of ν μ charged current quasielastic scattering and neutral current π 0 production, as well as neutral current elastic scattering and charged current π + production are in progress.

Neutrino cross-section measurement with neutrinos from muon decay

In this paper, we stress the idea that new, more precise neutrino cross-sections measurements at low energies will be necessary to improve the results of future big neutrino detectors, which will be dominated by the contribution of the systematic errors. The use of a muon beam instead of the traditional pion beams is proposed. This choice allows the simultaneous measurement of both, ν μ and ν e interactions and the two helicities, in a clean environment and with a precise knowledge of the beam flux. We show that with ∼10 15 μ 's/year and a moderate mass detector (∼100 tons) placed close to the muon storage ring, precisions of the order of 10% in σ ν/ E ν ( E ν bin size of 100 MeV ) can be reached for neutrino energies below 2 GeV .

Possible application of the ICARUS technology for studies of neutrino interactions in the intermediate energy range

The precise measurement of the neutrino cross-section in the atmospheric neutrino range performed with best suited, available technologies has been identified as one of the most urgent experimental task for the next few years. The liquid Argon technology, developed by the ICARUS Collaboration, is an ideal candidate for a dedicated experiment operated on adequate, available neutrino beam line. Among various beam options, we have investigated on the expected performance with the present KEK neutrino beam and with the NuMI beam, presently under construction. Neutrino cross-section measurements with unprecedented accuracy can be performed in short time of run.

Muon storage rings for a beam-systematic-free measurement of neutrino and antineutrino cross-sections at low energy

Precision neutrino cross-section measurements at low energies will be necessary to improve the results of the current and future big neutrino experiments. In order to achieve precision neutrino cross-sections, that will yield a comprehensive understand of the underlying physics, a rather extended program will be required: (1) measurement from kinematical thresholds up to a few GeV; (2) well known and controlled neutrino flux; (3) study of neutrinos and anti-neutrinos and possibly ν e and ν μ flavors; (4) on several nuclear target; (5) with detectors capable of exclusive final state reconstruction. While the “standard” choice advocated relies on currently existing or on future “traditional” neutrino beams, that will provide very high intensities at near sites, we advocate that neutrinos from muon storage rings provide a better choice to criterias (1)–(3). The currently available statistics from the CERN AD and the FNAL-Debuncher would provide statistical precisions better than 10% in typ. 200 MeV bins in the low energy range.

GENEVE: a Montecarlo generator for neutrino interactions in the intermediate energy range

GENEVE is a MonteCarlo code developed during the last few years inside the ICARUS Collaboration. It describes neutrino interactions on nuclear target in the “intermediate energy range” and therefore is well suited for simulation of atmospheric neutrino scattering. We provide here few indications about the models adopted for the simulation of quasi-elastic interactions and of scattering processes proceeding via nucleon resonances excitation and decay. The code has been tested with comparisons with available data and an overall agreement turns out to be achieved. A gradual upgrade of the code is indeed necessary, according to many indications, reviewed during this Workshop, from more recent theoretical developments and experimental hints. More in general, the definitive assessment of a canonical MonteCarlo code for neutrino physics (in the intermediate energy range) has been identified as one of the most urgent task for a fully comprehensive understanding of the neutrino oscillation phenomenon. We believe that the only way to proceed relies on the forthcoming results of present and future generations of experiments, performed with best suited, available technologies, aiming to precise neutrino cross section measurements.

Measurements of neutrino cross-sections with a near detector

The use of only a far detector for a disappearance neutrino oscillation experiment necessitates a good knowledge of neutrino cross-sections. Implications of using today's available results are given.

Total neutrino and antineutrino charged current cross section measurements in 100, 160, and 200 GeV narrow band beams

Neutrino and antineutrino total charged current cross sections on iron were measured in the 100, 160, and 200 GeV narrow band beams at the CERN SPS in the energy range 10 to 200 GeV. Assuming σ/E to be constant, the values corrected for non-isoscalarity are σv/E = (0.686 ± 0.019) * 10−38 cm2/ (GeV · nucleon) and σv/E = (0.339 ± 0.010) * 10−38 cm2/ (GeV·nucleon). Between 50 and 150 GeV no energy dependence of σ/E was observed within ±3% for neutrino and ±4% for antineutrino interactions.

Experimental verification of the universality of electron-neutrino and muon-neutrino coupling to the neutral weak current

The ratio of the coupling strengths of electron- and muon-neutrinos to the neutral weak current, derived from measurements of total semileptonic neutrino cross sections on an isoscalar target, is reported on. Using an enriched electron-neutrino beam with equal fluxes of ν e and ν e produced by dumping the 400 GeV on beam of the CERN-SPS into thick copper targets (beam-dump), σ( NC( (−)ν e ))/σ( CC( (−)ν e )) = 0.406 −0.135 +0.145 is measured. Combining this value with the re we obtained in an exposure to a narrow band neutrino beam, the ratio of the coupling constants g ν e ν e /g ν μ v̄ μ = =1.05 −0.18 +0.15 is derived, in good agreement with universal coupling strength of the electron- and muon-neutrino to the neutral weak current.

Cross Sections and Scaling-Variable Distributions of Neutral- and Charged- Current Neutrino-Nucleon Interactions from a Low-Energy Narrow Band Beam

This Letter compares neutral-current and charged-current scaling-variable distributions in neutrino-nucleon interactions induced by a narrow-band beam at Brookhaven National Laboratory; the $x$ distribution of neutral-current events has been reported previously. The first measurement of flux-normalized neutrino cross sections from a narrow-band beam in the energy range ${E}_{\ensuremath{\nu}}=3\ensuremath{-}9$ GeV is also presented.

Measurements ofνμNandν¯μNCharged-Current Total Cross Sections

Measurements of flux-normalized neutrino and antineutrino total charged-current cross sections ($\ensuremath{\sigma}$) in the energy range $45<E<205$ GeV are presented. We see no evidence for the anomalous sharp rise in $\frac{{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}}}{{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\ensuremath{\nu}}}$ reported by earlier authors. The neutrino cross section rises linearly with energy and with $\frac{\ensuremath{\sigma}}{E}$ about 18% smaller than other measurements below 10 GeV. The average antineutrino slope at 55 GeV is consistent with measurements at low energy; however, a (20 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 10)% increase is indicated over our energy range.

Measurement of Neutrino and Antineutrino Total Cross Sections at High Energy

Charged-current $\ensuremath{\nu}$ and $\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}$ data are reported from the first application at Fermilab of a narrow-band neutrino beam for the measurement of normalized cross sections. Cross sections of about 20% accuracy were measured with a 120-GeV secondary hadron beam for $\ensuremath{\nu}(\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}})$ originating from $\ensuremath{\pi}$ decay ($〈{E}_{\ensuremath{\nu}}〉=38$ GeV) and $K$ decay ($〈{E}_{\ensuremath{\nu}}〉=105$ GeV). The $\ensuremath{\nu}$ and $\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}$ fluxes were determined by directly measuring the hadron flux and the $\frac{\ensuremath{\pi}}{\frac{K}{p}}$ ratios for the hadron beam.

Measurements of Neutrino and Antineutrino Cross Sections at High Energies

The dependence of the neutrino total cross section ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\ensuremath{\nu}}$ on neutrino energy has been measured up to 160 GeV. The data are consistent with a linear dependence with slope (0.58 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.25) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}38}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/GeV. The ratio of the antineutrino to the neutrino total cross section $\frac{{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}}}{{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\ensuremath{\nu}}}$ has been found to be approximately constant up to 70 GeV at a value which is consistent with the numerical value of $\frac{1}{3}$ expected for the scattering of neutrinos and antineutrinos by relativistic pointlike spin-\textonehalf{} fermions.