Electron scattering and neutrino physics

A. M. Ankowski, A. Ashkenazi, S. Bacca, J. L. Barrow, M. Betancourt, A. Bodek, M. E. Christy, L. Doria, S. Dytman, A. Friedland, O. Hen, C. J. Horowitz, N. Jachowicz, W. Ketchum, T. Lux, K. Mahn, C. Mariani, J. Newby, V. Pandey, A. PapadopoulouE. Radicioni, F. Sánchez, C. Sfienti, J. M. Udías, L. Weinstein, L. Alvarez-Ruso, J. E. Amaro, C. A. Argüelles, A. B. Balantekin, S. Bolognesi, V. Brdar, P. Butti, S. Carey, Z. Djurcic, O. Dvornikov, S. Edayath, S. Gardiner, J. Isaacson, W. Jay, A. Klustová, K. S. McFarland, A. Nikolakopoulos, A. Norrick, S. Pastore, G. Paz, M. H. Reno, I. Ruiz Simo, J. E. Sobczyk, A. Sousa, N. Toro, Y. D. Tsai, M. Wagman, J. G. Walsh, G. Yang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

A thorough understanding of neutrino–nucleus scattering physics is crucial for the successful execution of the entire US neutrino physics program. Neutrino–nucleus interaction constitutes one of the biggest systematic uncertainties in neutrino experiments—both at intermediate energies affecting long-baseline deep underground neutrino experiment, as well as at low energies affecting coherent scattering neutrino program—and could well be the difference between achieving or missing discovery level precision. To this end, electron–nucleus scattering experiments provide vital information to test, assess and validate different nuclear models and event generators intended to test, assess and validate different nuclear models and event generators intended to be used in neutrino experiments. Similarly, for the low-energy neutrino program revolving around the coherent elastic neutrino–nucleus scattering (CEvNS) physics at stopped pion sources, such as at ORNL, the main source of uncertainty in the evaluation of the CEvNS cross section is driven by the underlying nuclear structure, embedded in the weak form factor, of the target nucleus. To this end, parity-violating electron scattering (PVES) experiments, utilizing polarized electron beams, provide vital model-independent information in determining weak form factors. This information is vital in achieving a percent level precision needed to disentangle new physics signals from the standard model expected CEvNS rate. In this white paper, we highlight connections between electron- and neutrino–nucleus scattering physics at energies ranging from 10 s of MeV to a few GeV, review the status of ongoing and planned electron scattering experiments, identify gaps, and lay out a path forward that benefits the neutrino community. We also highlight the systemic challenges with respect to the divide between the nuclear and high-energy physics communities and funding that presents additional hurdles in mobilizing these connections to the benefit of neutrino programs.

Original languageEnglish
Article number120501
JournalJournal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics
Volume50
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2023

Funding

The authors acknowledge the support of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) through the Cluster of Excellence ‘Precision Physics, Fundamental Interactions, and Structure of Matter’ (PRISMA EXC 2118/1) funded by the DFG within the German Excellence Strategy, the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO-Flanders), and the Spanish Ministerio de EconomÃa y Competitividad (SEIDI-MINECO) under Grant No. PID2019-107564GB-I00, IFAE is partially funded by the CERCA program of the Generalitat de Catalunya. +

Keywords

  • CEvNS
  • PVES
  • electron scattering
  • neutrino oscillation
  • neutrino scattering

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