Neutrino- and antineutrino-induced reactions with nuclei between 1 and 50 GeV

Abstract

Background: Nuclear effects can have a significant impact on neutrino-nucleus interactions. In particular, data from neutrino experiments with broad energy distributions require complex theoretical models that are able to take all the relevant channels into account as well as incorporate nuclear effects in both initial and final-state interactions. Purpose: We investigate neutrino and antineutrino scattering on iron and carbon in the energy range from 1 to 30 GeV, which is relevant to current and coming experiments (MINOS, NOvA, and Minerva). Method: The Giessen Boltzmann--Uehling--Uhlenbeck (GiBUU) model, which implements all reaction channels relevant for neutrino energies under consideration, is used for an investigation of neutrino-nucleus reactions. Results: Our calculations are compared with the recent NOMAD and MINOS data for the integrated inclusive cross sections. Predictions are made for the differential cross sections for semiinclusive final states (pions, kaons, and nucleons) for the MINOS and NOvA beams. Conclusions: Nuclear effects in the initial-state interactions may slightly change the inclusive nuclear cross section as compared to the free nucleon ones. Final-state interactions noticeably change the spectra of the outgoing hadrons. In the Minerva and NOvA experiments these effects should be visible in the kinetic energy distributions of the final pions, kaons, and nucleons. Secondary interactions play an important role for strangeness production.