Identification of nuclear effects in neutrino-carbon interactions at low three-momentum transfer

The MINERvA collaboration Rodrigues, P.A. ; Demgen, J. ; Miltenberger, E. ; et al.
Phys.Rev.Lett. 116 (2016) 071802, 2016.
Inspire Record 1405301 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.76976

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.

2 data tables

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$^2$.


Measurements of the atmospheric neutrino flux by Super-Kamiokande: energy spectra, geomagnetic effects, and solar modulation

The Super-Kamiokande collaboration Richard, E. ; Okumura, K. ; Abe, K. ; et al.
Phys.Rev.D 94 (2016) 052001, 2016.
Inspire Record 1401192 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.76912

A comprehensive study on the atmospheric neutrino flux in the energy region from sub-GeV up to several TeV using the Super-Kamiokande water Cherenkov detector is presented in this paper. The energy and azimuthal spectra of the atmospheric ${\nu}_e+{\bar{\nu}}_e$ and ${\nu}_{\mu}+{\bar{\nu}}_{\mu}$ fluxes are measured. The energy spectra are obtained using an iterative unfolding method by combining various event topologies with differing energy responses. The azimuthal spectra depending on energy and zenith angle, and their modulation by geomagnetic effects, are also studied. A predicted east-west asymmetry is observed in both the ${\nu}_e$ and ${\nu}_{\mu}$ samples at 8.0 {\sigma} and 6.0 {\sigma} significance, respectively, and an indication that the asymmetry dipole angle changes depending on the zenith angle was seen at the 2.2 {\sigma} level. The measured energy and azimuthal spectra are consistent with the current flux models within the estimated systematic uncertainties. A study of the long-term correlation between the atmospheric neutrino flux and the solar magnetic activity cycle is also performed, and a weak indication of a correlation was seen at the 1.1 {\sigma} level, using SK I-IV data spanning a 20 year period. For particularly strong solar activity periods known as Forbush decreases, no theoretical prediction is available, but a deviation below the typical neutrino event rate is seen at the 2.4 {\sigma} level.

2 data tables

Electron neutrino flux measured by SK I-IV data. Error written in percentage including both statistical and systematic uncertainties.

Muon neutrino flux measured by SK I-IV data. Error written in percentage including both statistical and systematic uncertainties.