dr Artur Ankowski

Nuclear effects in neutrino interactions

In neutrino physics one compares theoretical predictions to experimental results using Monte Carlo simulations. Because in detectors neutrinos interact with atomic nuclei, uncertainties come mainly from nuclear effects. Typically, Monte Carlo generators are based on the Fermi gas model. From electron scattering one knows, however, that such approach can be treated only as the first approximation. Clearly better description of nucleus can provide its spectral function, describing the energy and momentum distribution of nucleons that compose the nucleus. It is important due to crucial role of precision in future experiments such as MINERvA and T2K. I want to present results calculated using the spectral functions of calcium and argon, obtained during my PhD studies. I will show that they allow for very accurate description of nucleus in electron scattering. Some of the electron data correspond kinematically to ~1-GeV neutrino interactions, what allows for indirect testing accuracy of modeling nuclear effects in the neutrino case. The presented description is going to be a part of the NuWro generator.