Consistent approach to weak interaction rates based on relativistic QRPA

We present a novel approach to describe charged-current weak interaction rates in nuclei; the weak lepton-hadron interaction is given in the standard current-current form, the nuclear ground state is described in the relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov model, and the relevant transitions to excited nuclear states are calculated in the relativistic proton-neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation (PN-RQRPA). The PN-RQRPA is formulated in the canonical single-nucleon basis of the relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov (RHB) model, for an effective Lagrangian characterized by density-dependent meson-nucleon couplings. The initial studies include description of inclusive neutrino-nucleus cross sections for several target nuclei of interest for neutrino detectors. It is shown that model calculations based on PN-RQRPA provide a simultaneous quantitative description of (νμ ,μ−) and (νe,e) reaction cross sections for 12C target nuclei. In addition, the inclusive neutrino-nucleus cross sections were studied for reactions involving supernova neutrinos.