arXiv subjects

J. E. Amaro

Publications and source records attributed to J. E. Amaro.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Global superscaling analysis of quasielastic electron scattering with relativistic effective mass

We present a global analysis of the inclusive quasielastic electron scattering data with a superscaling approach with relativistic effective mass. The SuSAM* model exploits the approximation of factorization of the scaling function $f^*(ψ^*)$ out of the cross section under quasifree conditions. Our approach is based on the relativistic mean field theory of nuclear matter where a relativistic effective mass for the nucleon encodes the dynamics of nucleons moving in presence of scalar and vector potentials. Both the scaling variable $ψ^*$ and the single nucleon cross sections include the effective mass as a parameter to be fitted to the data alongside the Fermi momentum $k_F$. Several methods to extract the scaling function and its uncertainty from the data are proposed and compared. The model predictions for the quasielastic cross section and the theoretical error bands are presented and discussed for nuclei along the periodic table from $A=2$ to $A=238$: $^2$H, $^3$H, $^3$He, $^4$He, $^{12}$C, $^{6}$Li, $^{9}$Be, $^{24}$Mg, $^{59}$Ni, $^{89}$Y, $^{119}$Sn, $^{181}$Ta, $^{186}$W, $^{197}$Au, $^{16}$O, $^{27}$Al, $^{40}$Ca, $^{48}$Ca, $^{56}$Fe, $^{208}$Pb, and $^{238}$U. We find that more than 9000 of the total $\sim 20000$ data fall within the quasielastic theoretical bands. Predictions for $^{48}$Ti and $^{40}$Ar are also provided for the kinematics of interest to neutrino experiments.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2026

Coarse graining the Bethe-Goldstone equation: nucleon-nucleon high momentum components

The delta-shell representation of the nuclear force allows a simplified treatment of nuclear correlations. We show how this applies to the Bethe-Goldstone equation as an integral equation in coordinate space with a few mesh points, which is solved by inversion of a 5-dimensional square matrix in the single channel cases and a $10\times10$ matrix for the tensor-coupled channels. This allows us to readily obtain the high momentum distribution, for all partial waves, of a back-to-back correlated nucleon pair in nuclear matter. We find that the probability of finding a high-momentum correlated neutron-proton pair is about 18 times that of a proton-proton one, as a result of the strong tensor force, thus confirming in an independent way previous results and measurements.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2026

Scaling Properties of Two-Particle-Two-Hole Responses in Asymmetric Nuclei for Neutrino Scattering within the Relativistic Mean-Field Framework

We perform a systematic analysis of the nuclear dependence of two-particle-two-hole meson-exchange current contributions to inclusive lepton-nucleus scattering within the relativistic mean-field framework. We present microscopic calculations of nuclear responses for a set of 17 nuclei, ranging from helium to uranium, using a model with different Fermi momenta for protons and neutrons. We propose a novel scaling prescription based on the two-particle phase space and key nuclear parameters. The resulting description is accurate over a wide range of nuclear targets, with typical deviations below 10\%, and allows for a separate treatment of the different emission channels. In addition, a consistent benchmark against electron-scattering data is provided. The parametrization presented provides a practical framework for extending the responses to different nuclear targets in neutrino event generators.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Microscopic calculation of two-particle-two-hole meson-exchange currents in $^{40}$Ar and asymmetric scaling properties for neutrino and electron scattering

We present a microscopic calculation of two particle-two hole meson exchange current response functions in asymmetric nuclei, with particular emphasis on the $^{40}$Ar nucleus. Employing a relativistic mean-field and relativistic Fermi gas framework, we compute the nuclear response for $^{40}$Ar and compare it with that of the symmetric $^{40}$Ca nucleus, analyzing the role of proton-neutron imbalance. The model incorporates distinct proton and neutron Fermi momenta to accurately capture the nuclear dynamics of systems with $Z \neq N$. Our results indicate that using $^{40}$Ca as a proxy for $^{40}$Ar leads to a systematic error of approximately 10\%. Additionally, we propose an asymmetric scaling formula to obtain the 2p2h response for arbitrary nuclei from the $^{12}$C response, improving the description of asymmetric nuclei. Finally, we benchmark our predictions against inclusive electron scattering and neutrino cross sections.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Meson-Exchange Currents in Quasielastic Charged-Current Neutrino Reactions with Single-Nucleon Knockout

The effect of meson-exchange currents on charged-current quasielastic neutrino scattering with single-nucleon emission is computed and analyzed within the relativistic Fermi gas model. This contribution arises primarily from the interference between one-body and two-body currents, where the two-body operator excites a 1p1h state in the presence of a second, spectator nucleon. The results obtained show a reduction of the vector, axial and vector-axial transverse response functions and, consequently, a decrease in the total neutrino cross section. In addition to a comparison with the non-relativistic limit, other models are also explored, such as the relativistic mean field model for nuclear matter and the superscaling analysis with relativistic effective mass, both of which yield qualitatively similar results.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Short-Range Correlations and Transverse Response Enhancement from Meson-Exchange Currents

We investigate the role of short-range correlations (SRC) in the transverse nuclear response within the quasielastic peak region, focusing on the 1p1h channel. The calculation is performed in nuclear matter by solving the Bethe-Goldstone equation with the realistic Granada 2013 nucleon-nucleon potential, including both one-body and two-body meson-exchange currents (MEC) of seagull, pion-in-flight, and $Δ$ types. We find that MEC produce a sizable enhancement of the transverse response in the 1p1h channel when acting on correlated nucleon pairs with high-momentum components generated by SRC. This contrasts with the uncorrelated case, where MEC, dominated by the $Δ$ current, can even yield a negative effect. The results are consistent with previous findings based on the correlated basis function approach, supporting the interpretation that SRC play a central role in the transverse response enhancement from MEC.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2025

Improved superscaling description of electron and charged-current neutrino quasielastic scattering using effective mass dynamics

We present an improved version of the Superscaling Analysis with Relativistic Effective Mass, denoted as SuSAM-v2. In the original SuSAM model, a universal scaling function was fitted to a selected set of quasielastic electron scattering (e,e') cross section data, using a phenomenological ansatz inspired by the Relativistic Mean Field model of nuclear matter. In this work, we refine the procedure by first fitting a longitudinal scaling function directly to experimental longitudinal response data. Subsequently, a separate transverse scaling function is extracted from purely transverse data, after subtracting the longitudinal contribution already determined. We find that the resulting transverse scaling function must exhibit an explicit dependence on the momentum transfer q in order to reproduce all kinematics consistently. The resulting SuSAM-v2 model simultaneously describes inclusive quasielastic cross sections and both longitudinal and transverse response functions in electron scattering. The model is then applied to neutrino-nucleus scattering, showing an improved prediction compared to the previous SuSAM-v1 version, due to a more accurate treatment of the relative contributions of the longitudinal and transverse weak nuclear responses.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Interference between Meson Exchange and One-Body Currents in Quasielastic Electron Scattering

In this work, we present a detailed analysis of the interference between meson exchange currents (MEC) and one-body currents in quasielastic electron scattering, with a focus on the sign of this interference in the transverse response for one-particle emission. We prove that the interference of both the Delta and pion-in-flight currents with the one-body current is negative, leading to a partial cancellation with the seagull current. This is mathematically demonstrated within the framework of the Fermi gas model. By comparing these interferences across various independent particle models, both relativistic and non-relativistic, our results indicate that all studied models display the same behavior. This consistency suggests that the interference is negative in models that do not incorporate tensor correlations in the nuclear wave function.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2024

Exploring semi-inclusive two-nucleon emission in neutrino scattering: a factorized approximation approach

The semi-inclusive cross section of two-nucleon emission induced by neutrinos and antineutrinos is computed employing the relativistic mean field model of nuclear matter and the dynamics of meson exchange currents. Within this model we explore a factorization approximation based on the product of an integrated two-hole spectral function and a two-nucleon cross section averaged over hole pairs. We demonstrate that the integrated spectral function of the uncorrelated Fermi gas can be analytically computed, and we derive a simple fully relativistic formula for this function, showcasing its dependency solely on both missing momentum and missing energy. A prescription for the average momenta of the two holes in the factorized two-nucleon cross section is provided, assuming that these momenta are perpendicular to the missing momentum in the center-of-mass system. The validity of the factorized approach is assessed by comparing it with the unfactorized calculation. Our investigation includes the study of the semi-inclusive cross section integrated over the energy of one of the emitted nucleons and the cross section integrated over the emission angles of the two nucleons and the outgoing muon kinematics. A comparison is made with the pure phase-space model and other models from the literature. The results of this analysis offer valuable insights into the influence of the semi-inclusive hadronic tensor on the cross section, providing a deeper understanding of the underlying nuclear processes.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Center-of-mass momentum dependence of short-range correlations with the coarse-grained Granada potential

The effect of the center of mass motion on the high-momentum distributions of correlated nucleon pairs is studied by solving the Bethe-Goldstone equation in nuclear matter with the Granada nucleon-nucleon potential. We show that this coarse-grained potential reduces the problem to an algebraic linear system of five (ten) equations for uncoupled (coupled) partial waves that can be easily solved. The corresponding relative wave functions of correlated pn, pp and nn pairs are computed for different values of their CM momentum. We find that the pn pairs dominate the high-momentum tail of the relative momentum distribution, and that this only depends marginally on center of mass momentum. Our results provide further justification and agreement for the factorization approximation commonly used in the literature. This approximation assumes that the momentum distribution of nucleon pairs can be factorized as the product of the center of mass momentum distribution and the relative momentum distribution.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2023

Semi-inclusive two-nucleon emission in (anti) neutrino CC scattering within the relativistic mean field framework

This paper delves into the distribution of semi-inclusive events involving the emission of two nucleons in (anti) neutrino charged-current scattering. The analysis is conducted within the framework of relativistic mean field theory applied to nuclear matter. To quantify the likelihood of such semi-inclusive events occurring, we employ a relativistic model of meson-exchange currents that aligns with the 2p2h inclusive cross-section. The outcomes are presented in terms of one-fold and two-fold integrated semi-inclusive cross sections. To highlight disparities among the various emission channels, including proton-proton, neutron-proton, and neutron-neutron, we compare them against a purely phase-space isotropic distribution within the center of mass of the two nucleons. These comparisons reveal significant differences in the event distributions, shedding light on the distinctive characteristics of each channel.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Charged-current quasielastic neutrino scattering from $^{12}$C in an extended superscaling model with two-nucleon emission

The quasielastic cross-section of charged-current neutrino and antineutrino scattering on $^{12}$C is calculated using an improved superscaling model with relativistic effective mass. Our model encompasses two-particle emission induced by neutrinos, which we distinguish into two contributions. The first contribution arises from meson-exchange currents, and its calculation is performed at a microscopic level. The second contribution is phenomenological and extracted from the high-energy tail of the scaling function, assumed to be produced by 2p2h mechanisms where the one-body current plays a role, such as short-range correlations and interferences with MEC, final-state interaction, etc. The model explicitly includes the modification of the relativistic effective mass of the nucleon within the relativistic mean field model of nuclear matter. The meson exchange currents are also consistently calculated within the same model. With this model, we present predictions for the neutrino and antineutrino cross sections of $^{12}$C that have been measured in accelerator experiments.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2023

Meson-exchange currents in quasielastic electron scattering in a generalized superscaling approach

We present a model that incorporates the effect of two-body currents in quasielastic electron-nucleus scattering within the framework of a consistent superscaling formalism. This is achieved by defining an averaged single-nucleon hadronic tensor based on the 1p1h matrix element of the one-body current plus meson-exchange currents (MEC). The consistent treatment of one- and two-body currents in our model enables the calculation of exchange current effects in the kinematical region where the Fermi gas response is zero, but not the scaling function. The effect of MEC is consistently taken into account when extracting the phenomenological scaling function from electron scattering data. With this model, we investigate the effect of MEC on the response functions taking into account the effective mass of the nucleon, and examine the consequences it has on the inclusive $(e,e')$ cross section. We find that 1p1h MEC deplete the quasielastic transverse response, while they not alter significantly the scaling behavior of (e,e') data.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2023

Extended superscaling with two-particle emission in electron and neutrino scattering

An extended superscaling analysis of quasielastic electron scattering data is proposed by parametrizing the scaling function as the sum of a symmetric function corresponding to the emission of a single particle plus a contribution from the phase space of two-particle emission. The phase space of two-particle emission (2p2h) is multiplied by a q-dependent parameter that has been fitted to describe the tail behavior of the scaling function. This approach allows for an alternative description of the quasielastic electron scattering data, incorporating the contributions from both single-particle and two-particle emission processes induced by the one-body current and explaining the asymmetry of the scaling function. In a factorized schematic model based on the independent-pair approximation, the 2p2h parameter is related to the high-momentum distribution of the pair averaged over 2p-2h excitations. However, in the phenomenological fitting approach undertaken here, this coefficient includes other contributions such as interference with two-body currents and effects of the final-state interactions. We present predictions for the inclusive two-nucleon emission cross section induced by electrons and neutrinos.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2023

Electron Scattering and Neutrino Physics

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 (DUNE), 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 be used in neutrino experiments. In this white paper, we highlight connections between electron- and neutrino-nucleus scattering physics at energies ranging from 10s of MeV to a few GeV, review the status of ongoing and planned electron scattering experiments, identify gaps, and layout 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 hurdle in mobilizing these connections to the benefit of neutrino programs.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2023

Improved Superscaling in Quasielastic Electron Scattering with Relativistic Effective Mass

Superscaling in electron scattering from nuclei is re-examined paying special attention to the definition of the averaged single-nucleon responses. The validity of the extrapolation of nucleon responses in the Fermi gas has been examined, which previously lacked a theoretical foundation. To address this issue, we introduce new averaged responses with a momentum distribution smeared around the Fermi surface, allowing for momenta above the Fermi momentum. This approach solves the problem of negativity in the extrapolation away from the scaling region and, at the same time, validates its use in the scaling analysis. This work has important implications for the interpretation of scaling data and contributes to the development of a more complete understanding of the scaling approach.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2022

Systematic description of COVID-19 pandemic using exact SIR solutions and Gumbel distributions

An epidemiological study of deaths is carried out in a dozen countries by analyzing the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. These countries are among those most affected by the first wave, i.e. where daily-death data series may closely resemble a solution of the basic SIR equations. The SIR equations are solved parametrically using the proper time as parameter. Some general properties of the SIR solutions are studied such as time-scaling and asymmetry. Additionally, we use approximations to the SIR solutions through Gumbel functions, which present a very similar behavior. The parameters of the SIR model and the Gumbel function are extracted from the data and compared for the different countries. It is found that ten of the selected countries are very well described by the solutions of the SIR model, with a basic reproduction number between 3 and 8.

q-bio.PE↗

arXiv2021

Analysis of the kinematic boundaries of the quasi-elastic neutrino-nucleus cross section in the superscaling model with a relativistic effective mass

In this work we obtain the analytical expressions for the boundaries of the charged current quasi-elastic double differential cross section in terms of dimensionless energy and momentum transfers, for the Relativistic Fermi Gas (RFG) and the Super-Scaling approach with relativistic effective mass (SuSAM*) models, within the scaling formalism. In addition, we show that this double differential cross section in the scaling formalism has very good properties to be implemented in the Monte Carlo (MC) neutrino event generators, particularly because its peak is almost flat with the (anti)neutrino energy. This makes it especially well-suited for the event generation by the acceptance-rejection method usually used in the neutrino generators. Finally, we analyze the total charged current quasi-elastic (CCQE) cross section $σ(E_ν)$ for both models and attribute the enhancement observed in the SuSAM* total cross section to the high-momentum components which are present, in a phenomenological way, in its scaling function, while these are absent in the RFG model.

hep-ph↗