An accurate evaluation of electron (anti-)neutrino scattering on nucleons

Understand

We discuss as accurately as possible the cross section of quasi-elastic scattering of electron (anti-)neutrinos on nucleons, also known as inverse beta decay in the case of antineutrinos.

• We focus on the moderate energy range from a few MeV up to hundreds of MeV, which includes neutrinos from reactors and supernovae.
• We assess the uncertainty on the cross section, which is relevant to experimental advances and increasingly large statistical samples.
• We estimate the effects of second-class currents, showing that they are small and negligible for current applications.