We evaluate the neutrino-nucleon charged-current cross section at next-to-leading order in quantum chromodynamic corrections in the variable flavor number scheme and the fixed flavor number scheme, taking into account quark masses. The number scheme dependence is largest at the highest energies considered here, ${10}^{12}\mathrm{GeV}$, where the cross sections differ by approximately 13%. We illustrate the numerical implications of the inconsistent application of the fixed flavor number scheme.

• Received 2 February 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.81.114012