Engineering a new abstraction layer to optimize the HEP analysis process

Abstract

Presently, in the new high-energy physics experiments we are observing a growing complexity in the interfaces of the analysis tools. As a consequence, end users have to master programming, understand complex frameworks and data storage details before achieving the physics goals. This reduces significantly the efficiency of the analysis process. In order to tackle this problem in analysis, we propose to introduce a new abstraction layer between the end users and the current interfaces. We go further in our approach by introducing Pheasant QL, the first proposal for a declarative domain-specific visual query language into this domain. Through our solution, we can express complex decay queries by means of visual operators with reduced programming efforts, abstracting the storage and optimization details, and reducing the need to deal with the normal analysis framework and physical storage intricacies. In our communication, we will describe the methodology we are following to design and implement the new abstraction layer. We will also describe our language in an informal manner in terms of syntax, semantics, and example queries.