A universal implementation of radiative effects in neutrino event generators

• Main Authors: Vidal, Julia Tena, Ashkenazi, Adi, Weinstein, Larry B, Blunden, Peter, Dytman, Steven, Steinberg, Noah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 09.09.2024
• Subjects: Physics - High Energy Physics - Experiment; Physics - High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2409.05736

Due to the similarities between electron-nucleus ($eA$) and neutrino-nucleus scattering ($\nu A$), $eA$ data can contribute key information to improve cross-section modeling in $eA$ and hence in $\nu A$ event generators. However, to compare data and generated events, either the data must be radiatively corrected or radiative effects need to be included in the event generators. We implemented a universal radiative corrections program that can be used with all reaction mechanisms and any $eA$ event generator. Our program includes real photon radiation by the incident and scattered electrons, and virtual photon exchange and photon vacuum polarization diagrams. It uses the ``extended peaking" approximation for electron radiation and neglects charged hadron radiation. This method, validated with GENIE, can also be extended to simulate $\nu A$ radiative effects. This work facilitates data-event-generator comparisons used to improve $\nu A$ event generators for the next-generation of neutrino experiments.