Charged-current neutrino-nucleus scattering off 95,97^Mo

Abstract

Background: Reliable cross sections for the neutrino-nucleus scattering off relevant nuclei for supernova neutrinos are essential for various applications in neutrino physics and astrophysics (e.g., supernova mechanisms). Studies of the nuclear responses for the stable molybdenum isotopes are of great interest for the planned MOON (Mo Observatory of Neutrinos) experiment.

Purpose: The purpose of the present work is, thus, to perform a detailed study of the charged-current nuclear responses to supernova neutrinos for the stable odd molybdenum isotopes. A special effort will be devoted to discuss in detail the structures of the most relevant final states in the corresponding proton-odd nucleus.

Method: The cross sections are computed by using the well-established framework for studies of semileptonic processes in nuclei developed by Donnelly and Walecka. The nuclear wave functions of the initial and the final nuclear states are computed by using the microscopic quasiparticle-phonon model. The nuclear responses to supernova neutrinos are subsequently estimated by folding the cross sections with realistic energy profiles for the incoming neutrinos.

Results: We present results for the cross sections of the charged-current neutrino and antineutrino scatterings off 95Mo and 97Mo. Nuclear responses to supernova neutrinos (both nonoscillating and oscillating ones) are also given. The inclusion of neutrino oscillations enhances significantly the neutrino and antineutrino cross sections.

Conclusions: We have found that the most important transitions are the Gamow-Teller–like ones which are mediated by the 1+ multipole. Furthermore, the three-quasiparticle degrees of freedom are essential in order to describe quantitatively the neutrino-nucleus scattering off odd open-shell nuclei.