Measurement of the ${\nu }_e$-Nucleus Charged-Current Double-Differential Cross Section at $⟨E_{\nu }⟩=2.4\mathrm{GeV}$ Using NOvA

The inclusive electron neutrino charged-current cross section is measured in the NOvA near detector using $8.02\times {10}^{20}$ protons-on-target in the NuMI beam. The sample of GeV electron neutrino interactions is the largest analyzed to date and is limited by $\simeq 17\%$ systematic rather than the $\simeq 7.4\%$ statistical uncertainties. The double-differential cross section in final-state electron energy and angle is presented for the first time, together with the single-differential dependence on $Q^2$ (squared four-momentum transfer) and energy, in the range $1\mathrm{GeV}\le E_{\nu }<6\mathrm{GeV}$. Detailed comparisons are made to the predictions of the GENIE, GiBUU, NEUT, and NuWro neutrino event generators. The data do not strongly favor a model over the others consistently across all three cross sections measured, though some models have especially good or poor agreement in the single differential cross section vs $Q^2$.

Figure 1

NuMI neutrino-mode beam flux spectra at the NOvA ND below 6 GeV. The bands represent the total flux uncertainty on hadron production and beam optics for each component.

Figure 2

Simulated ElectronID distributions of ${\nu }_e+{\overline{\nu }}_e$ CC (blue), ${\nu }_{\mu }+{\overline{\nu }}_{\mu }$ CC (orange), and NC (green), compared to data integrated over the reported electron kinematic phase space. The dashed (solid) line shows the total prediction from simulation (after extracted fit normalization corrections). Statistical uncertainties on data are too small to be seen. The vertical errors represents the $\pm 1\sigma$ systematic range. All spectra are normalized to the data exposure.

Figure 3

Extracted double differential cross section, subdivided in slices of electron angle. The outer error bars of the data represent total uncertainties, while the inner error bars are statistical only. The data are compared to several models.

Figure 4

Top: The differential cross section vs $E_{\nu }$. Bottom: Comparisons as a ratio to the NOvA-tune prediction. The gray band represents the normalization uncertainty from the neutrino flux prediction. The data are presented showing statistical and total uncertainties.

Figure 5

Top: the differential cross section vs $Q^2$. Bottom: as in Fig. 4, but for $Q^2$.