Measurements of the reactions C-12 (muon-neutrino, mu-) N-12 (g.s.) and C-12 (muon-neutrino, mu-) X

Abstract

Charged current scattering of nu_mu on 12C has been studied using a pi+ decay-in-flight nu_mu beam at the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility. A sample of 56.8 +- 9.6 events satisfying criteria for the exclusive reaction 12C + nu_mu -> mu- + 12N_g.s. was obtained using the large Liquid Scintillator Neutrino Detector (LSND). The observed flux-averaged cross section, (6.6 +- 1.0 +- 1.0) x 10^-41 cm^2, agrees well with reliable theoretical expectations. A measurement was also obtained for the inclusive cross section to all accessible 12N states, 12C + nu_\mu -> mu- + X. This flux-averaged cross section is (11.2 +- 0.3 +- 1.8)x 10^-40 cm^2, which is approximately half of that given by a recent Continuum Random Phase Approximation (CRPA) calculation.