First measurement of the strange axial coupling constant using neutral-current quasielastic interactions of atmospheric neutrinos at KamLAND

We report a measurement of the strange axial coupling constant 𝑔^𝑠_𝐴 using atmospheric neutrino data at KamLAND. This constant is a component of the axial form factor of the neutral-current quasielastic (NCQE) interaction. The value of 𝑔^𝑠_𝐴 significantly changes the ratio of proton and neutron NCQE cross sections. KamLAND is suitable for measuring NCQE interactions as it can detect nucleon recoils with low-energy thresholds and measure neutron multiplicity with high efficiency. KamLAND data, including the information on neutron multiplicity associated with the NCQE interactions, makes it possible to measure 𝑔^𝑠_𝐴 with a suppressed dependence on the axial mass 𝑀_𝐴, which has not yet been determined. For a comprehensive prediction of the neutron emission associated with neutrino interactions, we establish a simulation of particle emission via nuclear deexcitation of ¹²C , a process not considered in existing neutrino Monte Carlo event generators. Energy spectrum fitting for each neutron multiplicity gives 𝑔^𝑠_𝐴 = −0.1⁢4^+0.25_−0.26, which is the most stringent limit obtained using NCQE interactions without 𝑀_𝐴 constraints. The two-body current contribution considered in this analysis relies on a theoretically effective model and electron scattering experiments and requires future verification by direct measurements and future model improvement.