Neutrino Scattering Cross Sections Research Articles

QED radiative corrections for accelerator neutrinos

Neutrino oscillation experiments at accelerator energies aim to establish charge-parity violation in the neutrino sector by measuring the energy-dependent rate of νe appearance and νμ disappearance in a νμ beam. These experiments can precisely measure νμ cross sections at near detectors, but νe cross sections are poorly constrained and require theoretical inputs. In particular, quantum electrodynamics radiative corrections are different for electrons and muons. These corrections are proportional to the small quantum electrodynamics coupling α ≈ 1/137; however, the large separation of scales between the neutrino energy and the proton mass (~GeV), and the electron mass and soft-photon detection thresholds (~MeV) introduces large logarithms in the perturbative expansion. The resulting flavor differences exceed the percent-level experimental precision and depend on nonperturbative hadronic structure. We establish a factorization theorem for exclusive charged-current (anti)neutrino scattering cross sections representing them as a product of two factors. The first factor is flavor universal; it depends on hadronic and nuclear structure and can be constrained by high-statistics νμ data. The second factor is non-universal and contains logarithmic enhancements, but can be calculated exactly in perturbation theory. For charged-current elastic scattering, we demonstrate the cancellation of uncertainties in the predicted ratio of νe and νμ cross sections. We point out the potential impact of non-collinear energetic photons and the distortion of the visible lepton spectra, and provide precise predictions for inclusive observables.

Effects of neutrino magnetic moment and charge radius constraints and medium modifications of the nucleon form factors on the neutrino mean free path in dense matter

Effects of neutrino charge radius and magnetic moment constraints obtained from the astrophysical observations and reactor experiments, as well as in-medium modifications of the weak and electromagnetic nucleon form factors of the matter on the neutrino electroweak interaction with dense matter, are estimated. We use a relativistic mean-field model for the in-medium effective nucleon mass and quark-meson coupling model for nucleon form factors. We analyze the neutrino scattering cross section and mean free path in cold nuclear matter. We find that the increase of the cross section relative to that without neutrino form factors results in the decrease of the neutrino mean free path when neutrino form factors and the in-medium modifications of the nucleon weak and electromagnetic form factors are simultaneously considered. The quenching of the neutrino mean free path is evaluated to be about 12-58% for the values of μν=3×10−12μB and Rν=3.5×10−5MeV−1 compared with that obtained for the μν=0 and Rν=0. The decrease of the neutrino mean free path is expected to decelerate the cooling of neutron stars. Each contribution of the neutrino form factors to the neutrino mean free path is discussed.

First measurement of electron neutrino scattering cross section on argon

We report the first electron neutrino cross section measurements on argon, based on data collected by the ArgoNeuT experiment running in the GeV-scale NuMI beamline at Fermilab. A flux-averaged $\nu_e + \overline{\nu}_e$ total and a lepton angle differential cross section are extracted using 13 $\nu_e$ and $\overline{\nu}_e$ events identified with fully-automated selection and reconstruction. We employ electromagnetic-induced shower characterization and analysis tools developed to identify $\nu_e/\overline{\nu}_e$-like events among complex interaction topologies present in ArgoNeuT data ($\langle E_{\bar{\nu}_e} \rangle = 4.3$ GeV and $\langle E_{\nu_e} \rangle = 10.5$ GeV). The techniques are widely applicable to searches for electron-flavor appearance at short- and long-baseline using liquid argon time projection chamber technology. Notably, the data-driven studies of GeV-scale $\nu_e/\overline{\nu}_e$ interactions presented in this Letter probe an energy regime relevant for future DUNE oscillation physics.

Neutrino-13C cross sections at supernova neutrino energies

We present neutrino capture cross sections on 13C at supernova neutrino energies, up to 50 MeV. For both charged-current and neutral-current reactions partial cross sections are calculated using the statistical Hauser-Feschbach method. Coherent elastic neutrino scattering cross section for a 13C target is also provided.

Charged-current neutrino-nucleus scattering off Xe isotopes

Xenon detectors are used in the search for dark matter and neutrinoless double-beta decay ($0\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{\beta})$. As the next-generation detectors reach masses in the ton scale, neutrinos from astrophysical sources are soon predicted to become background in such detectors. Theoretical predictions of neutrino scattering cross sections and information of nuclear structure effects therein are crucial in accounting for the background. We perform calculations for differential and total cross sections of charged-current neutrino scattering off the most abundant xenon isotopes. The nuclear-structure calculations are made in the proton-neutron quasiparticle random-phase approximation and the microscopic quasiparticle phonon model for even-mass and odd-mass nuclei, respectively. We compute total cross sections as a function of the neutrino energy, and also give estimates of total averaged cross sections for $^{8}\mathrm{B}$ solar neutrinos and supernova neutrinos using realistic energy distributions.

Quasielastic charged-current neutrino scattering in the scaling model with relativistic effective mass

We use a recent scaling analysis of the quasielastic electron scattering data from $^{12}$C to predict the quasielastic charge-changing neutrino scattering cross sections within an uncertainty band. We use a scaling function extracted from a selection of the $(e,e')$ cross section data, and an effective nucleon mass inspired by the relativistic mean-field model of nuclear matter. The corresponding super-scaling analysis with relativistic effective mass (SuSAM*) describes a large amount of the electron data lying inside a phenomenological quasielastic band. The effective mass incorporates the enhancement of the transverse current produced by the relativistic mean field. The scaling function incorporates nuclear effects beyond the impulse approximation, in particular meson-exchange currents and short range correlations producing tails in the scaling function. Besides its simplicity, this model describes the neutrino data as reasonably well as other more sophisticated nuclear models.

Shell-model computed cross sections for charged-current scattering of astrophysical neutrinos off Ar40

Charged-current (anti)neutrino-$^{40}\mathrm{Ar}$ cross sections for astrophysical neutrinos have been calculated. The initial and final nuclear states were calculated using the nuclear shell model. The folded solar-neutrino scattering cross section was found to be $1.78(23)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}42}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$, which is higher than what the previous papers have reported. The contributions from the ${1}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and ${2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ multipoles were found to be significant at supernova-neutrino energies, confirming the random-phase approximation (RPA) result of a previous study. The effects of neutrino flavor conversions in dense stellar matter (matter oscillations) were found to enhance the neutrino-scattering cross sections significantly for both the normal and inverted mass hierarchies. For the antineutrino scattering, only a small difference between the nonoscillating and inverted-hierarchy cross sections was found, while the normal-hierarchy cross section was 2--3 times larger than that of the nonoscillating cross section, depending on the adopted parametrization of the Fermi-Dirac distribution. This property of the supernova-antineutrino signal could probably be used to distinguish between the two hierarchies in megaton LAr detectors.

Neutrino scattering in supernovae and the universal spin correlations of a unitary gas

Core collapse supernova simulations can be sensitive to neutrino interactions near the neutrinosphere. This is the surface of last scattering. We model the neutrinosphere region as a warm unitary gas of neutrons. A unitary gas is a low density system of particles with large scattering lengths. We calculate modifications to neutrino scattering cross sections because of the universal spin and density correlations of a unitary gas. These correlations can be studied in laboratory cold atom experiments. We find significant reductions in cross sections, compared to free space interactions, even at relatively low densities. These reductions could reduce the delay time from core bounce to successful explosion in multidimensional supernova simulations.

Inelastic scattering of neutrinos on nuclei

The cross section of inelastic neutrino interaction with 56Fe and 208Pb nuclei is calculated. Investigation of these processes caused by neutral currents is essential for considering phenomena that occur during Supernova explosions and designing astrophysical neutrino detectors. The inelastic neutrino scattering cross section is calculated using the model independent approach, which is based on experimental data on nuclear structure. The values of the matrix elements of the considered reaction are determined from the characteristics of electromagnetic dipole М1 transitions in nuclei, obtained by means of nuclear resonance fluorescence.

Scaling violation and relativistic effective mass from quasi-elastic electron scattering: Implications for neutrino reactions

The experimental data from quasi-elastic electron scattering from $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ are reanalyzed in terms of a new scaling variable suggested by the interacting relativistic Fermi gas with scalar and vector interactions, which is known to generate a relativistic effective mass for the interacting nucleons. By choosing a mean value of this relativistic effective mass ${m}_{N}^{*}=0.8{m}_{N}$, we observe that most of the data fall inside a region around the inverse parabola-shaped universal scaling function of the relativistic Fermi gas. This suggests a method to select the subset of data that highlight the quasi-elastic region, about two thirds of the total 2500 data. Regardless of the momentum and energy transfer, this method automatically excludes the data that are not dominated by the quasi-elastic process. The resulting band of data reflects deviations from perfect universality and can be used to characterize experimentally the quasi-elastic peak, despite the manifest scaling violation. Moreover, we show that the spread of the data around the scaling function can be interpreted as genuine fluctuations of the effective mass ${M}^{*}\ensuremath{\equiv}{m}_{N}^{*}/{m}_{N}\ensuremath{\sim}0.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1$. Applying the same procedure we transport the scaling quasi-elastic band into a theoretical prediction band for the neutrino-scattering cross section that is compatible with the recent measurements and slightly more accurate.

Neutral current quasielastic (anti)neutrino scattering beyond the Fermi gas model at MiniBooNE and BNL kinematics

Neutral current quasielastic (anti)neutrino scattering cross sections on a $^{12}$C target are analyzed using a realistic spectral function $S(p,E)$ that gives a scaling function in accordance with the ($e,e'$) scattering data. The spectral function accounts for the nucleon-nucleon (NN) correlations by using natural orbitals (NOs) from the Jastrow correlation method and has a realistic energy dependence. The standard value of the axial mass $M_A= 1.032$ GeV is used in all calculations. The role of the final-state interaction (FSI) on the spectral and scaling functions, as well as on the cross sections is accounted for. A comparison of the calculations with the empirical data of the MiniBooNE and BNL experiments is performed. Our results are analyzed in comparison with those when NN correlations are not included, and also with results from other theoretical approaches, such as the relativistic Fermi gas (RFG), the relativistic mean field (RMF), the relativistic Green's function (RGF), as well as with the SuperScaling Approach (SuSA) based on the analysis of quasielastic electron scattering.

Charged-current quasielastic neutrino scattering cross sections on12C with realistic spectral and scaling functions

Charge-current quasielastic (CCQE) (anti)neutrino scattering cross sections on a $^{12}$C target are analyzed using a spectral function $S(p,{\cal E})$ that gives a scaling function in accordance with the ($e,e'$) scattering data. The spectral function accounts for the nucleon-nucleon (NN) correlations, it has a realistic energy dependence and natural orbitals (NO's) from the Jastrow correlation method are used in its construction. In all calculations the standard value of the axial mass $M_A= 1.032$ GeV/c$^2$ is used. The results are compared with those when NN correlations are not included, as in the Relativistic Fermi Gas (RFG) model, or when harmonic-oscillator (HO) single-particle wave functions are used instead of NO's. The role of the final-state interactions (FSI) on the theoretical spectral and scaling functions, as well as on the cross sections is accounted for. A comparison of the results for the cases with and without FSI, as well as to results from the phenomenological scaling function obtained from the superscaling analysis (SuSA) is carried out. Our calculations based on the impulse approximation (IA) underpredict the MiniBooNE data, but agree with the data from the NOMAD experiment. The possible missing ingredients in the considered theoretical models are discussed.

Precision QCD in DIS at HERA

The HERA ep collider experiments have measured the proton structure functions over a wide kinematic range. New data from the H1 experiment now extend the range to higher 4-momentum transfer (√Q2 ) over which a precision of ~ 2% is achieved in the neutral current channel. A factor of two reduction in the systematic uncertainties over previous measurement is attained. The charged current structure function measurements are also significantly improved in precision. These data, when used in QCD analyses of the parton density functions (PDFs) reduce the PDF uncertainties particularly at high momentum fractions x which is relevant to predictions for the LHC experiments as well as low energy neutrino scattering cross sections.

Electroweak nuclear response at moderate momentum transfer

We discuss the convergence of the expansion of the nuclear electroweak current in powers of $|\mathbf{k}|/M$, where $M$ is the nucleon mass and $\mathbf{k}$ denotes either the momentum transfer or the momentum of the struck nucleon. We have computed the electron and neutrino scattering cross sections off uniform nuclear matter at equilibrium density using correlated wave functions and the cluster expansion formalism. The results of our work suggest that the proposed approach provides accurate estimates of the measured electron scattering cross sections. On the other hand, the description of the current based on the widely used leading-order approximation does not appear to be adequate, even at momentum transfer as low as 300 MeV.

Inelastic neutrino scattering off stable even–even Mo isotopes at low and intermediate energies

Inelastic neutrino scattering cross sections for the even–even Mo isotopes (contents of the MOON detector at Japan), at low and intermediate electron neutrino energies ( ϵ i ≤ 100 MeV), are calculated. MOON is a next-generation double beta and neutrino-less double-beta-decay experiment which is also a promising facility for low-energy neutrino detection. The nuclear wave functions required in this work have been constructed in the context of the quasi-particle random phase approximation (QRPA) and the results presented refer to 92 Mo , 94 Mo , 96 Mo , 98 Mo and 100 Mo isotopes.

Neutral current reaction cross sections for the stable 100 Mo isotope

Motivated by the ongoing MOON neutrino experiment at Japan aiming to search for double beta and neutrinoless double beta decay events, we investigate inelastic neutrino scattering cross sections for the stable 100Mo isotope by performing state-by-state calculations. The required many body nuclear wave functions are constructed within the context of the quasi-particle random phase approximation (QRPA) tested in the reproducibility of the low-lying spectrum of the 100Mo isotope.

Neutrino scattering rates in neutron star matter with Δ isobars

We take the \ensuremath{\Delta}-isobar degrees of freedom into account in neutron star matter and evaluate their contributions to neutrino scattering cross sections and mean free paths. The neutron star matter is described by means of an effective hadronic model in the relativistic mean-field approximation. It is found that \ensuremath{\Delta} isobars may be present in neutron stars. The electron chemical potential does not decrease and the neutrino abundance does not increase with the increase of the density when neutrinos are trapped in the matter with \ensuremath{\Delta} isobars. The large vector coupling constant between the ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and neutrino and the high spin of the \ensuremath{\Delta} influence significantly the neutrino scattering cross section and lead the contribution of the ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ to the dominance of the scattering rates. In neutrino-trapped case, the presence of \ensuremath{\Delta}s causes the neutrino mean free path to decrease drastically compared to that in the matter in which baryons are only nucleons.

Electroweak interactions in a relativistic Fermi gas

We present a relativistic model for computing the neutrino mean free path in neutron matter. In this model, neutron matter is described as a noninteracting Fermi gas in \ensuremath{\beta} equilibrium. We present results for the neutrino mean free path for temperatures of 0 to 50 MeV and a broad range of neutrino energies. We show that relativistic effects cause a considerable enhancement of neutrino-scattering cross sections in neutron matter. The influence of the ${Q}^{2}$ dependence in the electroweak form factors and the inclusion of a weak-magnetic term in the hadron current is discussed. The weak-magnetic term in the hadron current is at the origin of some selective spin dependence for the nucleons that are subject to neutrino interactions.

Composition of the Innermost Core‐Collapse Supernova Ejecta

With presently known input physics and computer simulations in 1D, a self-consistent treatment of core collapse supernovae does not yet lead to successful explosions, while 2D models show some promise. Thus, there are strong indications that the delayed neutrino mechanism works combined with a multi-D convection treatment for unstable layers. On the other hand there is a need to provide correct nucleosynthesis abundances for the progressing field of galactic evolution and observations of low metallicity stars. The innermost ejecta is directly affected by the explosion mechanism, i.e. most strongly the yields of Fe-group nuclei for which an induced piston or thermal bomb treatment will not provide the correct yields because the effect of neutrino interactions is not included. We apply parameterized variations to the neutrino scattering cross sections and alternatively, parameterized variations are applied to the neutrino absorption cross sections on nucleons in the ``gain region''. We find that both measures lead to similar results, causing explosions and a Ye>0.5 in the innermost ejected layers, due to the combined effect of a short weak interaction time scale and a negligible electron degeneracy, unveiling the proton-neutron mass difference. We include all weak interactions (electron and positron capture, beta-decay, neutrino and antineutrino capture on nuclei, and neutrino and antineutrino capture on nucleons) and present first nucleosynthesis results for these innermost ejected layers to discuss how they improve predictions for Fe-group nuclei. The proton-rich environment results in enhanced abundances of 45Sc, 49Ti, and 64Zn as requested by chemical evolution studies and observations of low metallicity stars as well as appreciable production of nuclei in the mass range up to A=80.

Relativistic effects in neutrino–Fermi gas interactions

We study neutrino interactions in a hadron gas within a relativistic framework. The hadron matter is described by a non-interacting Fermi gas in beta equilibrium. We show that the introduction of relativistic effects causes a sizable enhancement of the neutrino-scattering cross sections.