Neutrino oscillation studies and the neutrino cross section

Abstract

The present uncertainties in the knowledge of the neutrino cross sections for E_nu \sim 1 GeV, that is in the energy range most important for atmospheric and long baseline accelerator neutrinos, are large. These uncertainties do not play a significant role in the interpretation of existing data, however they could become a limiting factor in future studies that aim at a complete and accurate determination of the neutrino oscillation parameters. New data and theoretical understanding on nuclear effects and on the electromagnetic structure functions at low Q^2 and in the resonance production region are available, and can be valuable in reducing the present systematic uncertainties. The collaboration of physicists working in different subfields will be important to obtain the most from this available information. It is now also possible, with the facilities developed for long baseline beams, to produce high intensity and well controlled neutrino beams to measure the neutrino interaction properties with much better precision that what was done in the past. Several projects and ideas to fully exploit these possibilities are under active investigation. These topics have been the object of the first neutrino interaction (NUINT01) workshop.