Search

The experimental data from quasielastic electron and (anti)neutrino scattering on $^{12}$C are reanalyzed in terms of a new scaling variable $\psi^*$ 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. We construct a new scaling function $f^\text{QE}(\psi^*)$ for the inclusive lepton scattering from nuclei within the coherent density fluctuation model (CDFM). The latter is a natural extension of the relativistic Fermi gas model to finite nuclei. In this work, on the basis of the scaling function obtained within CDFM with a relativistic effective mass $m_N^* =0.8 m_N$, we calculate and compare the theoretical predictions with a large set of experimental data for inclusive ($e,e'$) and (anti)neutrino cross sections. The model also includes the contribution of weak two-body currents in the two-particle two-hole sector, evaluated within a fully relativistic Fermi gas. Good agreement with experimental data is found over the whole range of electron and (anti)neutrino energies., Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication in Physical Review C

We present a global fit of neutral-current elastic (NCE) neutrino-scattering data and parity-violating electron-scattering (PVES) data with the goal of determining the strange quark contribution to the vector and axial form factors of the proton. Previous fits of this form included data from a variety of PVES experiments (PVA4, HAPPEx, G0, SAMPLE) and the NCE neutrino and anti-neutrino data from BNL E734. These fits did not constrain the strangeness contribution to the axial form factor $G_A^s(Q^2)$ at low $Q^2$ very well because there was no NCE data for $Q^2<0.45$ GeV$^2$. Our new fit includes for the first time MiniBooNE NCE data from both neutrino and anti-neutrino scattering; this experiment used a hydrocarbon target and so a model of the neutrino interaction with the carbon nucleus was required. Three different nuclear models have been employed: a relativistic Fermi gas model, the SuperScaling Approximation model, and a spectral function model. We find a tremendous improvement in the constraint of $G_A^s(Q^2)$ at low $Q^2$ compared to previous work, although more data is needed from NCE measurements that focus on exclusive single-proton final states, for example from MicroBooNE., Comment: Revised in light of referee comments; now accepted for publication in Physical Review D

The incompressibility of both nuclear matter and finite nuclei is estimated by the monopole compression modes in nuclei in the framework of a nonrelativistic Hartree-Fock-Bogoliyubov method and the coherent density fluctuation model. The monopole states originate from vibrations of the nuclear density. The calculations in the model for the incompressibility in finite nuclei are based on the Brueckner energy-density functional for nuclear matter. Results for the energies of the breathing vibrational states and finite nuclei incompressibilities are obtained for various nuclei and their values are compared with recent experimental data. The evolution of the isoscalar giant monopole resonance (ISGMR) along Ni, Sn, and Pb isotopic chains is discussed. This approach can be applied to analyses of neutron stars properties, such as incompressibility, symmetry energy, slope parameter, and other astrophysical quantities, as well as for modelling dynamical behaviors within stellar environments., Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures, 3 tables, Astronomy 2, 1 (2023)

The connection between the scaling function, directly extracted from the analysis of electron scattering data, and the nuclear spectral function or nuclear momentum density is investigated at depth. The dependence of the scaling function on the two independent variables in the scattering process, the transfer momentum ($q$) and the scaling variable ($y$), is taken into account, and the analysis is extended to both, positive and negative $y$-values, i.e., below and above the center of the quasielastic peak, respectively. Analytical expressions for the derivatives of the scaling function, evaluated at the finite limits of integration dealing with the kinematically allowed region, are connected with the spectral function. Here, contributions corresponding to zero and finite excitation energies are included. The scaling function is described by the Gumbel density distribution, whereas short-range correlations are incorporated in the spectral function by using some simple models. Also different parametrizations for the nucleon momentum distribution, that are compatible with the general properties of the scaling function, have been considered., Comment: 26 pages, 16 figures, accepted for publication in Nuclear Physics, Section A

A detailed study of charged current quasielastic neutrino and antineutrino scattering cross sections on a $^{12}$C target with no pions in the final state is presented. The initial nucleus is described by means of a realistic spectral function $S(p,{\cal E})$ in which nucleon-nucleon correlations are implemented by using natural orbitals through the Jastrow method. The roles played by these correlations and by final-state interactions are analyzed and discussed. The model also includes the contribution of weak two-body currents in the two-particle two-hole sector, evaluated within a fully relativistic Fermi gas. The theoretical predictions are compared with a large set of experimental data for double-differential, single-differential and total integrated cross sections measured by the MiniBooNE, MINER$\nu$A and T2K experiments. Good agreement with experimental data is found over the whole range of neutrino energies. The results are also in global good agreement with the predictions of the superscaling approach, which is based on the analysis of electron-nucleus scattering data, with only a few differences seen at specific kinematics., Comment: 14 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review C

Report of the experimental activities in Hall A at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility during 2013.

Charged current inclusive neutrino-nucleus cross sections are evaluated using the superscaling model for quasielastic scattering and its extension to the pion production region. The contribution of two-particle-two-hole vector meson-exchange current excitations is also considered within a fully relativistic model tested against electron scattering data. The results are compared with the inclusive neutrino-nucleus data from the T2K and SciBooNE experiments. For experiments where $\langle E_\nu \rangle \sim 0.8$ GeV, the three mechanisms considered in this work provide good agreement with the data. However, when the neutrino energy is larger, effects from beyond the $\Delta$ also appear to be playing a role. The results show that processes induced by two-body currents play a minor role at the kinematics considered., Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures

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., Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures

Recent progresses on the relativistic modeling of neutrino-nucleus reactions are presented and the results are compared with high precision experimental data in a wide energy range., Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, Proccedings of the 33rd International Workshop on Nuclear Theory, IWNT33-14, Rila Mountains, Bulgaria, June 22-28, 2014

We compare the charged-current quasielastic neutrino and antineutrino observables obtained in two different nuclear models, the phenomenological SuperScaling Approximation and the Relativistic Mean Field approach, with the recent data published by the MINERvA Collaboration. Both models provide a good description of the data without the need of an ad hoc increase in the mass parameter in the axial-vector dipole form factor. Comparisons are also made with the MiniBooNE results where different conclusions are reached., Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, Accepted for publication in Physical Review D

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., Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review C

The relativistic mean field (RMF) model is used to describe nucleons in the nucleus and thereby to evaluate the effects of having dynamically off-shell spinors. Compared with free, on-shell nucleons as employed in some other models, within the RMF nucleons are described by relativistic spinors with strongly enhanced lower components. In this work it is seen that for MiniBooNE kinematics, neutrino charged-current quasielastic cross sections show some sensitivity to these off-shell effects, while for the antineutrino-nucleus case the total cross sections are seen to be essentially independent of the enhancement of the lower components. As was found to be the case when comparing the RMF results with the neutrino-nucleus data, the present impulse approximation predictions within the RMF also fall short of the MiniBooNE antineutrino-nucleus data., Comment: 19 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Physics Letters B

We evaluate semi-inclusive neutral-current quasielastic differential neutrino and antineutrino cross sections within the framework of the relativistic impulse approximation. The results of the relativistic mean field and of the relativistic Green's function models are compared. The sensitivity to the strange-quark content of the nucleon form factor is also discussed. The results of the models are compared with the MiniBooNE experimental data for neutrino scattering. Numerical predictions for flux-averaged antineutrino scattering cross sections are also presented.

We evaluate the neutral current quasi-elastic neutrino cross section within two nuclear models: the SuSA model, based on the superscaling behavior of electron scattering data, and the RMF model, based on relativistic mean field theory. We also estimate the ratio $(\nu p \to \nu p)/(\nu N \to \nu N)$ and compare with the MiniBooNE experimental data, performing a fit of the parameters $M_A$ and $g_A^{(s)}$ within the two models. Finally, we present our predictions for antineutrino scattering., Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures

Superscaling approximation (SuSA) predictions to neutrino-induced charged-current charged pion production in the \Delta-resonance region are explored under MiniBooNE experimental conditions. The results obtained within SuSA for the flux-averaged double-differential cross sections of the \pi+ production for the \nu_\mu+CH_2 reaction as a function of the muon kinetic energy and of the scattering angle, the cross sections averaged over the angle, the total cross section for the \pi+ production, as well as CC1\pi+ to CCQE cross section ratio are compared with the corresponding MiniBooNE experimental data. The SuSA predictions are in good agreement with data on neutrino flux average cross-sections, but a somewhat different dependence on the neutrino energy is predicted than the one resulting from the experimental analysis., Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Physics Letters B

The link between the scaling function extracted from the analysis of (e,e') cross sections and the spectral function/momentum distribution in nuclei is revisited. Several descriptions of the spectral function based on the independent particle model are employed, together with the inclusion of nucleon correlations, and effects of the energy dependence arising from the width of the hole states are investigated. Although some of these approaches provide rough overall agreement with data, they are not found to be capable of reproducing one of the distinctive features of the experimental scaling function, namely its asymmetry. However, the addition of final-state interactions, incorporated in the present study using either relativistic mean field theory or via a complex optical potential, does lead to asymmetric scaling functions in accordance with data. The present analysis seems to indicate that final-state interactions constitute an essential ingredient and are required to provide a proper description of the experimental scaling function., Comment: 29 pages, 13 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review C

Scaling studies of inclusive quasielastic electron scattering reactions have been used in the past as a basic tool to obtain information on the nucleon momentum distribution in nuclei. However, the connection between the scaling function, extracted from the analysis of cross section data, and the spectral function only exists assuming very restricted approximations. We revisit the basic expressions involved in scaling studies and how they can be linked to the nucleon momentum distribution. In particular, the analysis applied in the past to the so-called scaling region, {\it i.e.,} negative values of the scaling variable $y$, is extended here to positive $y$, since a "universal" superscaling function has been extracted from the analysis of the separated longitudinal data. This leads to results that clearly differ from the ones based solely on the negative-$y$ scaling region, providing new information on how the energy and momentum are distributed in the spectral function., Comment: 29 pages, 9 figures. To be published in Phys. Rev. C