Exploring semi-inclusive two-nucleon emission in neutrino scattering: a factorized approximation approach

The semi-inclusive cross section of two-nucleon emission induced by neutrinos and antineutrinos is computed employing the relativistic mean field model of nuclear matter and the dynamics of meson exchange currents. Within this model we explore a factorization approximation based on the product of an integrated two-hole spectral function and a two-nucleon cross section averaged over hole pairs. We demonstrate that the integrated spectral function of the uncorrelated Fermi gas can be analytically computed, and we derive a simple fully relativistic formula for this function, showcasing its dependency solely on both missing momentum and missing energy. A prescription for the average momenta of the two holes in the factorized two-nucleon cross section is provided, assuming that these momenta are perpendicular to the missing momentum in the center-of-mass system. The validity of the factorized approach is assessed by comparing it with the unfactorized calculation. Our investigation includes the study of the semi-inclusive cross section integrated over the energy of one of the emitted nucleons and the cross section integrated over the emission angles of the two nucleons and the outgoing muon kinematics. A comparison is made with the pure phase-space model and other models from the literature. The results of this analysis offer valuable insights into the influence of the semi-inclusive hadronic tensor on the cross section, providing a deeper understanding of the underlying nuclear processes.