Experimental study of neutrino absorption on carbon

The process of electron emission from {similar to}30 MeV neutrino absorption on carbon, {sup 12}C({nu}{sub {ital e}},{ital e}{sup {minus}}){sup 12}N, has been observed. The flux-weighted total cross section for the exclusive neutrino-induced nuclear transition {sup 12}C({nu}{sub {ital e}},{ital e}{sup {minus}}){sup 12}N(g.s.) is (1.05{plus minus}0.10(stat){plus minus}0.10(syst)){times}10{sup {minus}41} cm{sup 2}. The measured cross section and angular distribution {ital d}{sigma}/{ital d}{Omega} are in agreement with theoretical estimates. The inclusive {nu}{sub {ital e}} {sup 12}C reaction rate, which accounted for the majority of all neutrino interactions observed in this experiment, was determined from a detailed fit of energy and angular distributions for the observed electrons. The inclusive {sup 12}C({nu}{sub {ital e}},{ital e}{sup {minus}}){ital X} cross section is measured to be (1.41{plus minus}0.23(tot)){times}10{sup {minus}41} cm{sup 2}. An upper limit for the sum of the {sup 13}C({nu}{sub {ital e}},{ital e}{sup {minus}}){ital X}+{sup 27}Al({nu}{sub {ital e}},{ital e}{sup {minus}}){ital X} inclusive absorption cross sections is presented.