LArSoft: toolkit for simulation, reconstruction and analysis of liquid argon TPC neutrino detectors

E.L Snider,G Petrillo

doi:10.1088/1742-6596/898/4/042057

E.L Snider, G Petrillo

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/898/4/042057

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Abstract

LArSoft is a set of detector-independent software tools for the simulation, reconstruction and analysis of data from liquid argon (LAr) neutrino experiments The common features of LAr time projection chambers (TPCs) enable sharing of algorithm code across detectors of very different size and configuration. LArSoft is currently used in production simulation and reconstruction by the ArgoNeuT, DUNE, LArlAT, MicroBooNE, and SBND experiments. The software suite offers a wide selection of algorithms and utilities, including those for associated photo-detectors and the handling of auxiliary detectors outside the TPCs. Available algorithms cover the full range of simulation and reconstruction, from raw waveforms to high-level reconstructed objects, event topologies and classification. The common code within LArSoft is contributed by adopting experiments, which also provide detector-specific geometry descriptions, and code for the treatment of electronic signals. LArSoft is also a collaboration of experiments, Fermilab and associated software projects which cooperate in setting requirements, priorities, and schedules. In this talk, we outline the general architecture of the software and the interaction with external libraries and detector-specific code. We also describe the dynamics of LArSoft software development between the contributing experiments, the projects supporting the software infrastructure LArSoft relies on, and the core LArSoft support project.

Highlights

Liquid argon time projection chambers (LArTPCs) [1] have become important tools for precision measurements of neutrino properties and their interactions with nuclear matter, as evidenced by the raft of recent and future accelerator-based neutrino experiments that utilize LArTPCs [2]–[6]
In addition to the collection of charge deposited in the TPC volume, most detectors utilize photo-detector systems to detect scintillation light created in conjunction with ionization processes within the liquid argon (LAr)
In the two sections, we describe the general architecture of the software, some of the design principles and practices, and how the shared software interfaces to experiment-specific code and external libraries

Summary

Introduction

Liquid argon time projection chambers (LArTPCs) [1] have become important tools for precision measurements of neutrino properties and their interactions with nuclear matter, as evidenced by the raft of recent and future accelerator-based neutrino experiments that utilize LArTPCs [2]–[6]. The readout systems among all of the large scale TPCs currently in operation or in planning utilize multiple, parallel planes of strips, each of which provides a 2-D projected image of charge deposition onto a plane perpendicular to the strips. By combining these 2-D images from strips at different angles, it is possible to construct a a 3-D image of the charge deposition. In addition to the collection of charge deposited in the TPC volume, most detectors utilize photo-detector systems to detect scintillation light created in conjunction with ionization processes within the LAr. The arrival time of this light is used to determine event interaction times

Methods

Conclusion