Nucleon binding energy and transverse momentum imbalance in neutrino-nucleus reactions

Journal Article · 01 May 2020 · Physical Review D

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.101.092001 · OSTI ID:1616786

Cai, T. ; Lu, X. -G.; Harewood, L. A.; Wret, C.; Akbar, F.; Andrade, D. A.; Ascencio, M. V.; Bellantoni, L.; Bercellie, A.; Betancourt, M.; Bodek, A.; Bonilla, J. L.; Bravar, A.; Budd, H.; Caceres, G.; Carneiro, M. F.; Coplowe, D.; da Motta, H.; Dar, Zubair Ahmad; Díaz, G. A. ; Felix, J.; Fields, L.; Filkins, A.; Fine, R.; Gago, A. M.; Gallagher, H.; Ghosh, A.; Gran, R.; Harris, D. A.; Henry, S.; Jena, S.; Jena, D.; Kleykamp, J.; Kordosky, M.; Last, D.; Le, T.; Lozano, A.; Maher, E.; Manly, S.; Mann, W. A.; Mauger, C.; McFarland, K. S.; Messerly, B.; Miller, J.; Morfín, J. G.; Naples, D.; Nelson, J. K.; Nguyen, C.; Norrick, A.; Nuruzzaman,; Olivier, A.; Paolone, V.; Perdue, G. N.; Ramírez, M. A.; Ransome, R. D.; Ruterbories, D.; Schellman, H.; Salinas, C. J. Solano; Su, H.; Sultana, M.; Syrotenko, V. S.; Valencia, E.; Wark, D.; Weber, A.; Wospakrik, M.; Yaeggy, B.; Zazueta, L.

We have measured new observables based on the final state kinematic imbalances in the mesonless production of ${\nu }_{\mu }+A\to {\mu }^{-}+p+X$ in the MINERνA tracker. Components of the muon-proton momentum imbalances parallel ( $\delta p_{\mathrm{Ty}}$) and perpendicular ( $\delta p_{\mathrm{Tx}}$) to the momentum transfer in the transverse plane are found to be sensitive to the nuclear effects such as Fermi motion, binding energy, and non-quasielastic (QE) contributions. The QE peak location in $\delta p_{\mathrm{Ty}}$ is particularly sensitive to the binding energy. Differential cross sections are compared to predictions from different neutrino interaction models. The Fermi gas models presented in this study cannot simultaneously describe features such as QE peak location, width, and the non-QE events contributing to the signal process. Correcting the genie’s binding energy implementation according to theory causes better agreement with data. Hints of proton left-right asymmetry are observed in $\delta p_{\mathrm{Tx}}$. Better modeling of the binding energy can reduce the bias in neutrino energy reconstruction, and these observables can be applied in current and future experiments to better constrain nuclear effects.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States); Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP); National Science Foundation (NSF)
• Contributing Organization: The MINERνA Collaboration
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0008475; AC02-07CH11359; PHY-0619727
• OSTI ID: 1616786
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1574967; OSTI ID: 1617019
• Report Number(s): arXiv:1910.08658; FERMILAB-PUB-19-539-ND; PRVDAQ; TRN: US2106711
• Journal Information: Physical Review D, Vol. 101, Issue 9; ISSN 2470-0010
• Publisher: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English