Accurate and robust methods for direct background estimation in resonant anomaly detection

arXiv (Cornell University)

Abstract

Resonant anomaly detection methods have great potential for enhancing the sensitivity of traditional bump hunt searches. A key component of these methods is a high quality background template used to produce an anomaly score. Using the LHC Olympics R&D dataset, we demonstrate that this background template can also be repurposed to directly estimate the background expectation in a simple cut and count setup. In contrast to a traditional bump hunt, no fit to the invariant mass distribution is needed, thereby avoiding the potential problem of background sculpting. Furthermore, direct background estimation allows working with large background rejection rates, where resonant anomaly detection methods typically show their greatest improvement in significance.

Authors 7

1. Ranit Das

   Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey · Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute

   Affiliation as printed

   NHETC , Dept. of Physics and Astronomy , Rutgers University , Piscataway , NJ 08854 , USA

2. Thorben Finke Aachen Institute for Theoretical Particle Physics and Cosmology

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Theoretical Particle Physics and Cosmology , RWTH Aachen University , D-52056 Aachen , Germany

3. Marie Hein Aachen Institute for Theoretical Particle Physics and Cosmology

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Theoretical Particle Physics and Cosmology , RWTH Aachen University , D-52056 Aachen , Germany

4. Gregor Kasieczka

   Universität Hamburg

   Affiliation as printed

   Center for Data and Computing in Natural Sciences (CDCS) , 22607 Hamburg , Germany

   Institut für Experimentalphysik , Universität Hamburg , 22761 Hamburg , Germany

5. Michael Krämer
6. Alexander Mück
7. David Shih

   Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey · Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute

   Affiliation as printed

   NHETC , Dept. of Physics and Astronomy , Rutgers University , Piscataway , NJ 08854 , USA