$^{16}$O spectral function from coupled-cluster theory: applications to lepton-nucleus scattering

Abstract

We calculate the $^{16}$O spectral function by combining coupled-cluster theory with a Gaussian integral transform and by expanding the integral kernel in terms of Chebyshev polynomials to allow for a quantification of the theoretical uncertainties. We perform an analysis of the spectral function and employ it to predict lepton-nucleus scattering. Our results well describe the $^{16}$O electron scattering data in the quasi-elastic peak for momentum transfers $|\mathbf{q}|\gtrapprox500$ MeV and electron energies up to 1.2 GeV, extending therefore the so-called first principles approach to lepton-nucleus cross sections well into the relativistic regime. To prove the applicability of this method to neutrino-nucleus cross sections, we implement our $^{16}$O spectral functions in the NuWro Monte Carlo event generator and provide a comparison with recently published T2K neutrino data.