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arxiv: 2604.24925 · v2 · pith:4WNYATG3new · submitted 2026-04-27 · ✦ hep-ex

Measurement of muon (anti-)neutrino charged-current quasielastic-like cross section using off-axis NuMI beam at ICARUS

ICARUS Collaboration: F. Abd Alrahman , P. Abratenko , N. Abrego-Martinez , A. Aduszkiewicz , F. Akbar , L. Aliaga Soplin , M. Artero Pons , J. Asaadi
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W. F. Badgett B. Baibussinov B. Behera V. Bellini R. Benocci J. Berger S. Bertolucci M. Betancourt A. Blanchet F. Boffelli M. Bonesini T. Boone B. Bottino A. Braggiotti D. Brailsford S. J. Brice V. Brio C. Brizzolari H. S. Budd A. Campani A. Campos D. Carber M. Carneiro I. Caro Terrazas H. Carranza F. Castillo Fernandez S. Centro G. Cerati A. Chatterjee D. Cherdack S. Cherubini N. Chithirasreemadam M. Cicerchia T. E. Coan A. Cocco M. R. Convery L. Cooper-Troendle S. Copello H. Da Motta M. Dallolio A. A. Dange A. de Roeck S. Di Domizio L. Di Noto D. Di Ferdinando M. Diwan S. Dolan S. Donati F. Drielsma J. Dyer A. Falcone C. Farnese A. Fava N. Gallice C. Gatto D. Gibin A. Gioiosa W. Gu A. Guglielmi G. Gurung K. Hassinin H. Hausner A. Heggestuen B. Howard R. Howell Z. Hulcher G. Ingratta M. S. Ismail C. James W. Jang K. Jung Y.-J. Jwa L. Kashur W. Ketchum J. S. Kim D.-H. Koh J. Larkin Y. Li C. Mariani C. M. Marshall S. Martynenko N. Mauri K. S. McFarland D. P. M\'endez A. Menegolli G. Meng O. G. Miranda A. Mogan N. Moggi E. Montagna C. Montanari A. Montanari M. Mooney M. Moore G. Moreno-Granados J. Mueller M. Murphy D. Naples S. Palestini M. Pallavicini V. Paolone L. Pasqualini L. Patrizii G. Petrillo C. Petta V. Pia F. Pietropaolo F. Poppi M. Pozzato M.L. Pumo G. Putnam X. Qian A. Rappoldi G. L. Raselli S. Repetto F. Resnati A. M. Ricci M. Rosenberg M. Rossella N. Rowe P. Roy C. Rubbia A. Ruggeri S. Saha G. Salmoria S. Samanta A. Scaramelli D. Schmitz A. Schukraft D. Senadheera S-H. Seo F. Sergiampietri G. Sirri J. S. Smedley J. Smith M. Sotgia L. Stanco J. Stewart H. A. Tanaka M. Tenti K. Terao F. Terranova V. Togo D. Torretta M. Torti R. Triozzi Y.-T. Tsai K.V. Tsang T. Usher F. Varanini N. Vardy S. Ventura M. Vicenzi C. Vignoli F.A. Wieler Z. Williams R. J. Wilson P. Wilson J. Wolfs T. Wongjirad A. Wood E. Worcester M. Worcester S. Yadav H. Yu J. Yu A. Zani J. Zennamo J. Zettlemoyer S. Zucchelli
This is my paper

Pith reviewed 2026-07-01 08:28 UTC · model grok-4.3

classification ✦ hep-ex
keywords neutrino cross sectionsCCQE-like interactionsICARUS detectorNuMI beamdifferential cross sectionsnuclear effectsmuon neutrinosargon target
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The pith

ICARUS reports the first measurement of charged-current quasielastic-like neutrino cross sections using the NuMI beam.

A machine-rendered reading of the paper's core claim, the machinery that carries it, and where it could break.

The paper presents the initial cross-section results from the ICARUS detector operating at Fermilab with NuMI beam data equivalent to 2.5 times 10 to the 20 protons on target. It selects events with no pions in the final state to define a charged-current quasielastic-like sample and extracts flux-averaged differential cross sections in four kinematic variables: the lepton scattering angle, the opening angle between lepton and leading proton, and two measures of transverse momentum imbalance between muon and proton. These variables are chosen for their sensitivity to nuclear effects inside the target nucleus. The measured values are compared to predictions from multiple neutrino event generators, which agree with the data overall, yet the present uncertainties remain too large to select one model over another.

Core claim

The central claim is the first extraction of flux-averaged differential cross sections for muon (anti)neutrino CCQE-like interactions in argon, reported as functions of lepton angle, lepton-proton opening angle, and transverse kinematic imbalance variables, with direct comparison to a variety of event-generator predictions showing consistency within uncertainties but insufficient power for model discrimination.

What carries the argument

The no-pion final-state selection that isolates the CCQE-like topology, together with the transverse-plane kinematic imbalance variables that expose nuclear effects.

If this is right

  • The extracted cross sections agree with predictions from several neutrino event generators within present uncertainties.
  • The chosen angular and transverse-imbalance variables expose nuclear effects that contribute to systematic uncertainties in oscillation measurements.
  • The current data set does not yet have enough statistical power to discriminate among competing nuclear models.
  • Additional exposure will be required before the measurements can select a preferred generator.

Where Pith is reading between the lines

These are editorial extensions of the paper, not claims the author makes directly.

  • This result supplies a first reference data set against which improved argon interaction models can be tested as statistics grow.
  • The transverse imbalance variables used here could be adopted by other liquid-argon detectors to isolate final-state interaction effects.
  • Reduced flux uncertainties in future NuMI running would directly tighten the cross-section constraints reported in this analysis.

Load-bearing premise

The no-pion selection accurately isolates a CCQE-like sample whose backgrounds are controllable and whose cross sections can be extracted once the NuMI flux and detector response are modeled to sufficient accuracy.

What would settle it

Future data with smaller uncertainties that lie outside the uncertainty bands of all current generator predictions or that clearly favor one generator family over the others in the reported kinematic variables.

Figures

Figures reproduced from arXiv: 2604.24925 by A. A. Dange, A. Aduszkiewicz, A. Blanchet, A. Braggiotti, A. Campani, A. Campos, A. Chatterjee, A. Cocco, A. de Roeck, A. Falcone, A. Fava, A. Gioiosa, A. Guglielmi, A. Heggestuen, A. Menegolli, A. Mogan, A. Montanari, A. M. Ricci, A. Rappoldi, A. Ruggeri, A. Scaramelli, A. Schukraft, A. Wood, A. Zani, B. Baibussinov, B. Behera, B. Bottino, B. Howard, C. Brizzolari, C. Farnese, C. Gatto, C. James, C. Mariani, C. M. Marshall, C. Montanari, C. Petta, C. Rubbia, C. Vignoli, D. Brailsford, D. Carber, D. Cherdack, D. Di Ferdinando, D. Gibin, D.-H. Koh, D. Naples, D. P. M\'endez, D. Schmitz, D. Senadheera, D. Torretta, E. Montagna, E. Worcester, F. Akbar, F.A. Wieler, F. Boffelli, F. Castillo Fernandez, F. Drielsma, F. Pietropaolo, F. Poppi, F. Resnati, F. Sergiampietri, F. Terranova, F. Varanini, G. Cerati, G. Gurung, G. Ingratta, G. L. Raselli, G. Meng, G. Moreno-Granados, G. Petrillo, G. Putnam, G. Salmoria, G. Sirri, H. A. Tanaka, H. Carranza, H. da Motta, H. Hausner, H. S. Budd, H. Yu, I. Caro Terrazas, ICARUS Collaboration: F. Abd Alrahman, J. Asaadi, J. Berger, J. Dyer, J. Larkin, J. Mueller, J. S. Kim, J. Smith, J. S. Smedley, J. Stewart, J. Wolfs, J. Yu, J. Zennamo, J. Zettlemoyer, K. Hassinin, K. Jung, K. S. McFarland, K. Terao, K.V. Tsang, L. Aliaga Soplin, L. Cooper-Troendle, L. Di Noto, L. Kashur, L. Pasqualini, L. Patrizii, L. Stanco, M. Artero Pons, M. Betancourt, M. Bonesini, M. Carneiro, M. Cicerchia, M. Dallolio, M. Diwan, M.L. Pumo, M. Mooney, M. Moore, M. Murphy, M. Pallavicini, M. Pozzato, M. R. Convery, M. Rosenberg, M. Rossella, M. S. Ismail, M. Sotgia, M. Tenti, M. Torti, M. Vicenzi, M. Worcester, N. Abrego-Martinez, N. Chithirasreemadam, N. Gallice, N. Mauri, N. Moggi, N. Rowe, N. Vardy, O. G. Miranda, P. Abratenko, P. Roy, P. Wilson, R. Benocci, R. Howell, R. J. Wilson, R. Triozzi, S. Bertolucci, S. Centro, S. Cherubini, S. Copello, S. Di Domizio, S. Dolan, S. Donati, S-H. Seo, S. J. Brice, S. Martynenko, S. Palestini, S. Repetto, S. Saha, S. Samanta, S. Ventura, S. Yadav, S. Zucchelli, T. Boone, T. E. Coan, T. Usher, T. Wongjirad, V. Bellini, V. Brio, V. Paolone, V. Pia, V. Togo, W. F. Badgett, W. Gu, W. Jang, W. Ketchum, X. Qian, Y.-J. Jwa, Y. Li, Y.-T. Tsai, Z. Hulcher, Z. Williams.

Figure 1
Figure 1. Figure 1: FIG. 1. The simulated neutrino fluxes at the ICARUS detec view at source ↗
Figure 2
Figure 2. Figure 2: FIG. 2. Reconstructed cos view at source ↗
Figure 3
Figure 3. Figure 3: FIG. 3. Reconstructed view at source ↗
Figure 5
Figure 5. Figure 5: FIG. 5. (Left) The data-to-prediction ratio of differential view at source ↗
Figure 4
Figure 4. Figure 4: FIG. 4. The true leading pion kinetic energy for the interac view at source ↗
Figure 6
Figure 6. Figure 6: FIG. 6. Reconstructed cos view at source ↗
Figure 7
Figure 7. Figure 7: FIG. 7. Reconstructed view at source ↗
Figure 11
Figure 11. Figure 11: Neut is the least compatible in the angular vari￾ables with a p-value of 0.178 but shows nice agreement in the TKI variables. The difference between hA2018 and hN2018 are not noticeable from the δpT but becomes larger at higher angles of δαT . The unique shapes pre￾dicted by NuWro and GiBBU in the δpT distribution view at source ↗
Figure 8
Figure 8. Figure 8: FIG. 8. The extracted cross sections (black marker) compared to reference GENIE model ( view at source ↗
Figure 9
Figure 9. Figure 9: FIG. 9. An illustration of fractional uncertainties of each group of systematic uncertainty from the “N-minus-X method.” The view at source ↗
Figure 10
Figure 10. Figure 10: FIG. 10. The extracted cross section on cos view at source ↗
Figure 11
Figure 11. Figure 11: FIG. 11. The extracted cross section on view at source ↗
Figure 13
Figure 13. Figure 13: FIG. 13. A fit is performed to find the set of template view at source ↗
Figure 12
Figure 12. Figure 12: FIG. 12. A simple example experiment is introduced to de view at source ↗
Figure 15
Figure 15. Figure 15: FIG. 15. The global LLH distributions from the angular (top) view at source ↗
Figure 14
Figure 14. Figure 14: FIG. 14. The post-fit covariance matrix of the fit parameters view at source ↗
Figure 19
Figure 19. Figure 19: FIG. 19. The penalty term of the LLH for each group of view at source ↗
Figure 20
Figure 20. Figure 20: FIG. 20. LLH view at source ↗
Figure 21
Figure 21. Figure 21: FIG. 21. The cross sections extracted from “uncorrelated” fits (orange marker) are compared to results reported in the top view at source ↗
Figure 22
Figure 22. Figure 22: FIG. 22. The extracted cross sections (black marker) compared to reference GENIE model ( view at source ↗
Figure 23
Figure 23. Figure 23: FIG. 23. The extracted cross section measured in cos view at source ↗
read the original abstract

This paper presents the first neutrino cross-section measurement from the ICARUS detector at Fermilab, using NuMI (Neutrinos at the Main Injector) beam data collected from two beam operation periods corresponding to $2.5\times10^{20}$ protons-on-target in neutrino beam mode. The signal is defined by events with no pions produced in the final state, a topology dominated by charged-current quasielastic-like (CCQE-like) signatures. The measurement is reported as flux-averaged differential cross sections as functions of kinematic variables that provide sensitivity to the complex nuclear effects which often dominate the systematic uncertainty budgets of neutrino oscillation measurements. Specifically, this work reports cross sections in two angular variables -- the angle of the outgoing lepton and the opening angle between the lepton and leading proton -- and two variables characterizing the kinematic imbalance between the muon and proton in the plane transverse to the incoming neutrino. These results are compared against predictions from a variety of neutrino event generators, with $p$-values calculated between the extracted cross sections and each prediction. Overall, the predictions agree with the data; however, the current budget of uncertainties does not yet provide sufficient discriminating power to favor a specific model.

Editorial analysis

A structured set of objections, weighed in public.

Desk editor's note, referee report, simulated authors' rebuttal, and a circularity audit. Tearing a paper down is the easy half of reading it; the pith above is the substance, this is the friction.

Referee Report

0 major / 0 minor

Summary. This paper presents the first neutrino cross-section measurement from the ICARUS detector at Fermilab using off-axis NuMI beam data from two operation periods (2.5×10^{20} POT in neutrino mode). The signal is defined as events with no pions in the final state (CCQE-like topology). It reports flux-averaged differential cross sections in the outgoing lepton angle, lepton-proton opening angle, and two transverse kinematic imbalance variables, compared to multiple neutrino event generators via p-values. The abstract concludes that predictions agree with data but the uncertainty budget lacks power to discriminate among models.

Significance. As the first ICARUS cross-section result, the measurement supplies new data on CCQE-like interactions sensitive to nuclear effects that dominate systematic uncertainties in oscillation analyses. If the no-pion selection, flux modeling, efficiency corrections, and background subtraction are validated in the full text, the result adds a useful benchmark dataset; however, the abstract's own statement that uncertainties prevent model discrimination indicates the primary value is in establishing the measurement rather than resolving generator differences.

Simulated Author's Rebuttal

0 responses · 1 unresolved

We thank the referee for their review of our manuscript. We appreciate the acknowledgment that this represents the first cross-section result from ICARUS and provides a useful benchmark dataset for CCQE-like interactions. Since no specific major comments were enumerated in the report, we provide a general response to the summary assessment. The measurement focuses on establishing the result with the available statistics and uncertainties; we agree that the current precision does not allow strong model discrimination, which is accurately reflected in the abstract.

standing simulated objections not resolved
  • Validation of the no-pion selection, flux modeling, efficiency corrections, and background subtraction cannot be addressed without access to the full manuscript text, which was not provided in the query.

Circularity Check

0 steps flagged

No significant circularity in experimental measurement

full rationale

This paper reports an experimental cross-section measurement from ICARUS detector data on NuMI beam, defining a CCQE-like sample via no-pion topology and extracting flux-averaged differentials compared to external generators via p-values. The provided abstract contains no equations, fitted parameters renamed as predictions, self-citations, or ansatzes that reduce any claimed result to its own inputs by construction. The central output is data compared to independent models, with explicit note that uncertainties lack discriminating power, confirming the derivation chain is self-contained against external benchmarks.

Axiom & Free-Parameter Ledger

0 free parameters · 0 axioms · 0 invented entities

Abstract-only review provides no explicit free parameters, axioms or invented entities; the measurement implicitly relies on standard assumptions about beam flux modeling, detector response and background estimation common to neutrino experiments.

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