Measurements of F2 and xF(nu)(3) - xF(nu;)(3) from CCFR nu(mu)-Fe and nu;(mu)-Fe Data in a Physics Model-Independent Way

Phys Rev Lett. 2001 Mar 26;86(13):2742-5. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.2742.

Abstract

We report on the extraction of the structure functions F2 and DeltaxF(3) = xF(nu)(3)-xF(nu;)(3) from CCFR nu(mu)-Fe and nu;(mu)-Fe differential cross sections. The extraction is performed in a physics model-independent (PMI) way. This first measurement of DeltaxF(3), which is useful in testing models of heavy charm production, is higher than current theoretical predictions. The ratio of the F2 (PMI) values measured in nu(mu) and mu scattering is in agreement (within 5%) with the predictions of next-to-leading-order parton distribution functions using massive charm production schemes, thus resolving the long-standing discrepancy between the two sets of data.