Neutral-current neutrino-nucleus quasielastic scattering

A relativistic distorted-wave impulse-approximation model to quasielastic neutral-current neutrino–nucleus scattering is developed, using the relativistic mean field theory for the bound state and taking into account the final state interaction in the relativistic scattering state. Results for the neutrino (antineutrino) reaction on 12C target nucleus are presented in an energy range between 500 and 1000 MeV. The sensitivity to the strange quark content of the nucleon weak current is discussed. The comparison with experimental data seems to favour a small strangeness contribution.