Measurement of Charged Current Inclusive $$\bar{V}_\mu$$ Interactions and 2p2h Contribution Using the NOvA Near Detector
- Tufts U.
More precise measurements of the scattering of antineutrinos on nuclei in the few GeV region of incident energy, $$E_{\nu}$$, can reveal new aspects of $$v/\bar{v}$$ interactions and of nuclear structure, while providing information crucial to continued progress by neutrino oscillation experiments. This Thesis reports an investigation of charged current $$\bar{v}_\mu$$ interactions in the predominantly hydrocarbon medium of the NOvA Near Detector. The data are obtained with the detector exposed to a narrow-band $$\bar{v}$$µ beam with spectral peak at Eν = 2.0 GeV, for a total accumulated exposure of 12.5×10$$^{20}$$ protons-on-target. The analysis expresses results in terms of three-momentum transfer,|$$\vec{q}$$| and available hadronic energy, $$E$$avail. These variables approximate (q0, |$$\vec{q}$$|), the variables used in theoretical treatments of lepton scattering on multi-nucleon systems such as in 2-particle-2-hole (2p2h) processes. This Thesis delivers two core measurements: Firstly, the double-dierential cross section $$d^2σ/d|\vec{q} |dE_{avail}$$ for inclusive CC $$\bar{v}_\mu$$ interactions in the NOvA detector medium is obtained. The cross section has a roughly gaussian shape in its projection onto |$$\vec{q}$$|, while being largely concentrated at values of $$E$$avail below 100 MeV. The single diferential cross sections dσ/d|$$\vec{q}$$| and dσ/dEavail are also obtained, and are compared to predictions based on the GENIE v3.0.6 neutrino generator augmented with four different implementations of 2p2h reactions. Secondly, the contribution of 2p2h reactions to the CC inclusive scattering sample is determined. Its presence is characterized in terms of double-differential and single-differential cross sections. The latter 2p2h distributions are compared to predictions from two experimental data-tune models and from two theory-based models, namely the SuSAv2 model and the Valencia model. Both of the theoretical models underpredict the measured cross-section strength and predict a shape for dσ/d|$$\vec{q}$$| that is flatter than the measured shape. Thus, this Thesis provides new information about CC antineutrino-nucleus scattering in the vicinity of Eν ~ 2 GeV, and it highlights improvements that are needed in theoretical treatments of 2p2h reactions.
- Research Organization:
- Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-07CH11359
- OSTI ID:
- 1892278
- Report Number(s):
- FERMILAB-THESIS-2022-18; oai:inspirehep.net:2163015
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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