Two different nuclear-medium effects are isolated using a low three-momentum transfer subsample of neutrino-carbon scattering data from the MINERvA neutrino experiment. The observed hadronic energy in charged-current $\nu_\mu$ interactions is combined with muon kinematics to permit separation of the quasielastic and $\Delta$(1232) resonance processes. First, we observe a small cross section at very low energy transfer that matches the expected screening effect of long-range nucleon correlations. Second, additions to the event rate in the kinematic region between the quasielastic and $\Delta$ resonance processes are needed to describe the data. The data in this kinematic region also has an enhanced population of multi-proton final states. Contributions predicted for scattering from a nucleon pair have both properties; the model tested in this analysis is a significant improvement but does not fully describe the data. We present the results as a double-differential cross section to enable further investigation of nuclear models. Improved description of the effects of the nuclear environment are required by current and future neutrino oscillation experiments.
The $\nu_\mu$ flux, in units 10$^{-5}$ / m$^{2}$ / P.O.T. / GeV.
Measured cross section per nucleon, in units 10$^{-42}$ cm$^2$ / GeV$^2$.
After completion of the data taking for the νμ→ντ oscillation search, the CHORUS lead–scintillator calorimeter was used in the 1998 run as an active target. High-statistics samples of charged-current interactions were collected in the CERN SPS west area neutrino beam. This beam contained predominantly muon (anti-)neutrinos from sign-selected pions and kaons. We measure the flux and energy spectrum of the incident neutrinos and compare them with beam simulations. The neutrino–nucleon and anti-neutrino–nucleon differential cross-sections are measured in the range 0.01<x<0.7 , 0.05<y<0.95 , 10<Eν<200 GeV . We extract the neutrino–nucleon structure functions F2(x,Q2) , xF3(x,Q2) , and R(x,Q2) and compare these with results from other experiments.
The measured F2 and xF3 at X = 0.020.
The measured F2 and xF3 at X = 0.045.
The measured F2 and xF3 at X = 0.080.
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.
Measurement of F2 at X = 0.015.
Measurement of F2 at X = 0.045.
Measurement of F2 at X = 0.080.