Strangeness on the nucleon

Observables from parity violation in elastic electron-nucleon scattering and neutral current quasi-elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering are employed as tools to improve the current knowledge on the strangeness content in the nucleon.Comment: Proceedings of International Scientific Meeting on Nuclear Physics, 9-13th September 2012. La R\'abida, Huelva, Spai

Pion production within the hybrid relativistic plane wave impulse approximation model at MiniBooNE and MINERvA kinematics

The hybrid model for electroweak single-pion production (SPP) off the nucleon, presented in [Gonz\'alez-Jim\'enez et al., Phys. Rev. D 95, 113007 (2017)], is extended here to the case of incoherent pion-production on the nucleus. Combining a low-energy model with a Regge approach, this model provides valid predictions in the entire energy region of interest for current and future accelerator-based neutrino-oscillation experiments. The Relativistic Mean-Field model is used for the description of the bound nucleons while the outgoing hadrons are considered as plane waves. This approach, known as Relativistic Plane-Wave Impulse Approximation (RPWIA), is a first step towards the development of more sophisticated models, it is also a test of our current understanding of the elementary reaction. We focus on the charged-current $\nu$($\bar\nu$)-nucleus interaction at MiniBooNE and MINERvA kinematics. The effect on the cross sections of the final-state interactions, which affect the outgoing hadrons on their way out of the nucleus, is judged by comparing our results with those from the NuWro Monte Carlo event generator. We find that the hybrid-RPWIA predictions largely underestimate the MiniBooNE data. In the case of MINERvA, our results fall below the $\nu$-induced 1$\pi^0$ production data, while a better agreement is found for $\nu$-induced 1$\pi^+$ and $\bar\nu$-induced 1$\pi^0$ production.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figure

Parity violation in quasielastic electron-nucleus scattering within the relativistic impulse approximation

We study parity violation in quasielastic (QE) electron-nucleus scattering using the relativistic impulse approximation. Different fully relativistic approaches have been considered to estimate the effects associated with the final-state interactions. We have computed the parity-violating quasielastic (PVQE) asymmetry and have analyzed its sensitivity to the different ingredients that enter in the description of the reaction mechanism: final-state interactions, nucleon off-shellness effects, current gauge ambiguities. Particular attention has been paid to the description of the weak neutral current form factors. The PVQE asymmetry is proven to be an excellent observable when the goal is to get precise information on the axial-vector sector of the weak neutral current. Specifically, from measurements of the asymmetry at backward scattering angles good knowledge of the radiative corrections entering in the isovector axial-vector sector can be gained. Finally, scaling properties shown by the interference $\gamma-Z$ nuclear responses are also analyzed.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figure

Parity violation and dynamical relativistic effects in (e⃗,e′N)(\vec{e},e'N) reactions

It is well known that coincidence quasielastic $(\vec{e},e'N)$ reactions are not appropriate to analyze effects linked to parity violation due the presence of the fifth electromagnetic (EM) response $R^{TL'}$. Nevertheless, in this work we develop a fully relativistic approach to be applied to parity-violating (PV) quasielastic $(\vec{e},e'N)$ processes. This is of importance as a preliminary step in the subsequent study of inclusive quasielastic PV $(\vec{e},e')$ reactions. Moreover, our present analysis allows us to disentangle effects associated with the off-shell character of nucleons in nuclei, gauge ambiguities and the role played by the lower components in the nucleon wave functions, i.e., dynamical relativistic effects. This study can help in getting clear information on PV effects. Particular attention is paid to the relativistic plane-wave impulse approximation where the explicit expressions for the PV single-nucleon responses are shown for the first time.Comment: 39 pages, 9 figure

Global analysis of parity-violating asymmetry data for elastic electron scattering

We perform a statistical analysis of the full set of parity-violating asymmetry data for elastic electron scattering including the most recent high precision measurement from $Q$-weak. Given the basis of the present analysis, our estimates appear to favor non-zero vector strangeness, specifically, positive (negative) values for the electric (magnetic) strange form factors. We also provide an accurate estimate of the axial-vector nucleon form factor at zero momentum transfer, $G_A^{ep}(0)$. Our study shows $G_A^{ep}(0)$ to be importantly reduced with respect to the currently accepted value. We also find our analysis of data to be compatible with the Standard Model values for the weak charges of the proton and neutron.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in PR

Seagull and pion-in-flight currents in neutrino-induced 1N1N and 2N2N knockout

[Background] The neutrino-nucleus ($\nu A$) cross section is a major source of systematic uncertainty in neutrino-oscillation studies. A precise $\nu A$ scattering model, in which multinucleon effects are incorporated, is pivotal for an accurate interpretation of the data. [Purpose] In $\nu A$ interactions, meson-exchange currents (MECs) can induce two-nucleon ($2N$) knockout from the target nucleus, resulting in a two-particle two-hole (2p2h) final state. They also affect single nucleon ($1N$) knockout reactions, yielding a one-particle one-hole (1p1h) final state. Both channels affect the inclusive strength. We present a study of axial and vector, seagull and pion-in-flight currents in muon-neutrino induced $1N$ and $2N$ knockout reactions on $^{12}$C. [Method] Bound and emitted nucleons are described as Hartree-Fock wave functions. For the vector MECs, the standard expressions are used. For the axial current, three parameterizations are considered. The framework developed here allows for a treatment of MECs and short-range correlations (SRCs). [Results] Results are compared with electron-scattering data and with literature. The strengths of the seagull, pion-in-flight and axial currents are studied separately and double differential cross sections including MECs are compared with results including SRCs. A comparison with MiniBooNE and T2K data is presented. [Conclusions] In the 1p1h channel, the effects of the MECs tend to cancel each other, resulting in a small effect on the double differential cross section. $2N$ knockout processes provide a small contribution to the inclusive double differential cross section, ranging from the $2N$ knockout threshold into the dip region. A fair agreement with the MiniBooNE and T2K data is reached.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figure

Impact of low-energy nuclear excitations on neutrino-nucleus scattering at MiniBooNE and T2K kinematics

[Background] Meticulous modeling of neutrino-nucleus interactions is essential to achieve the unprecedented precision goals of present and future accelerator-based neutrino-oscillation experiments. [Purpose] Confront our calculations of charged-current quasielastic cross section with the measurements of MiniBooNE and T2K, and to quantitatively investigate the role of nuclear-structure effects, in particular, low-energy nuclear excitations in forward muon scattering. [Method] The model takes the mean-field (MF) approach as the starting point, and solves Hartree-Fock (HF) equations using a Skyrme (SkE2) nucleon-nucleon interaction. Long-range nuclear correlations are taken into account by means of the continuum random-phase approximation (CRPA) framework. [Results] We present our calculations on flux-folded double differential, and flux-unfolded total cross sections off $^{12}$C and compare them with MiniBooNE and (off-axis) T2K measurements. We discuss the importance of low-energy nuclear excitations for the forward bins. [Conclusions] The CRPA predictions describe the gross features of the measured cross sections. They underpredict the data (more in the neutrino than in the antineutrino case) because of the absence of processes beyond pure quasielastic scattering in our model. At very forward muon scattering, low-energy nuclear excitations ($\omega <$ 50 MeV) account for nearly 50% of the flux-folded cross section.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures. Version published in Physical Review