Measurement of the $ν_e-$Nucleus Charged-Current Double-Differential Cross Section at $\left< E_ν \right> = $ 2.4 GeV using NOvA

Abstract

The inclusive electron neutrino charged-current cross section is measured in the NOvA near detector using 8.02 × 10 20 protons-on-target (POT) in the NuMI beam. The sample of GeV electron neutrino interactions is the largest analyzed to date and is limited by 17% systematic rather than the 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 GeV ≤ Eν < 6 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 .