Event Topology Research Articles

On the possibility of positive-ion detection in gaseous TPCs and its potential use for neutrinoless double beta decay searches in 136Xe

The neutralization of slow positive ions on solid surfaces can lead to the emission of secondary electrons in Auger-type processes. We discuss the possibility of harnessing such mechanisms to the detection of positive ions in gaseous TPCs. Applied to high pressure xenon, the proposed idea may enable reconstructing with high accuracy the topology of candidate neutrinoless double beta decay events of 136Xe without sacrificing the energy resolution of pure Xe gas. Candidate secondary electron emitters are discussed, as well as the expected efficiencies, challenges and potential pitfalls.

Identification of heavy-flavour jets with the CMS detector in pp collisions at 13 TeV

Many measurements and searches for physics beyond the standard model at the LHC rely on the efficient identification of heavy-flavour jets, i.e. jets originating from bottom or charm quarks. In this paper, the discriminating variables and the algorithms used for heavy-flavour jet identification during the first years of operation of the CMS experiment in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, are presented. Heavy-flavour jet identification algorithms have been improved compared to those used previously at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. For jets with transverse momenta in the range expected in simulated t̄ events, these new developments result in an efficiency of 68% for the correct identification of a b jet for a probability of 1% of misidentifying a light-flavour jet. The improvement in relative efficiency at this misidentification probability is about 15%, compared to previous CMS algorithms. In addition, for the first time algorithms have been developed to identify jets containing two b hadrons in Lorentz-boosted event topologies, as well as to tag c jets. The large data sample recorded in 2016 at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV has also allowed the development of new methods to measure the efficiency and misidentification probability of heavy-flavour jet identification algorithms. The b jet identification efficiency is measured with a precision of a few per cent at moderate jet transverse momenta (between 30 and 300 GeV) and about 5% at the highest jet transverse momenta (between 500 and 1000 GeV).

Flavor and energy inference for the high-energy IceCube neutrinos

We present a flavor and energy inference analysis for each down-going high-energy astrophysical neutrino event observed by the IceCube observatory during six years of data taking. Our goal is to obtain, for the first time, an estimate of the posterior probability distribution for the most relevant properties, such as the neutrino energy and flavor, of the neutrino-nucleon interactions producing shower and track events in the IceCube detector. For each event the main observables in the IceCube detector are the deposited energy and the event topology (showers or tracks) produced by the Cherenkov light by the transit through a medium of charged particles created in neutrino interactions. It is crucial to reconstruct from these observables the properties of the neutrino which generated such event. Here we describe how to achieve this goal using Bayesian inference and Markov chain Monte Carlo methods.

Flow topology of rare back flow events and critical points in turbulent channels and toroidal pipes

A study of the back flow events and critical points in the flow through a toroidal pipe at friction Reynolds number Reτ ≈ 650 is performed and compared with the results in a turbulent channel flow at Reτ ≈ 934. The statistics and topological properties of the back flow events are analysed and discussed. Conditionally-averaged flow fields in the vicinity of the back flow event are obtained, and the results for the torus show a similar streamwise wall-shear stress topology which varies considerably for the spanwise wall-shear stress when compared to the channel flow. The comparison between the toroidal pipe and channel flows also shows fewer back flow events and critical points in the torus. This cannot be solely attributed to differences in Reynolds number, but is a clear effect of the secondary flow present in the toroidal pipe. A possible mechanism is the effect of the secondary flow present in the torus, which convects momentum from the inner to the outer bend through the core of the pipe, and back from the outer to the inner bend through the pipe walls. In the region around the critical points, the skin-friction streamlines and vorticity lines exhibit similar flow characteristics with a node and saddle pair for both flows. These results indicate that back flow events and critical points are genuine features of wall-bounded turbulence, and are not artifacts of specific boundary or inflow conditions in simulations and/or measurement uncertainties in experiments.

The branching fraction calculations of Bc+ → ψ(2S)π+, Bc+ → J/ψK+ and Bc+ → J/ψDs+ decays relative to that of the Bc+ → J/ψπ+ mode

The weak decay of [Formula: see text] into [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] mesons, observed by LHCb collaboration for the first time, are calculated in the model which takes into account the “factorizable” contributions and “nonfactorizable” corrections. The decays of [Formula: see text] mesons into charmonia and light hadrons are expected to be well described by the factorization approximation. In the standard model, [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] decays occur through only the tree-level diagrams and so there are no CP violation in these channels. The decay [Formula: see text] is expected to proceed mainly via a [Formula: see text] transition because the [Formula: see text] decay has identical final state and similar event topology, where it is chosen as the relative branching fraction channel. The ratio of branching fractions [Formula: see text] is of particular interest since the CKM matrix element is suppressed by a factor [Formula: see text], in which the [Formula: see text] occur through [Formula: see text] transition, but the dominant amplitude of the decay [Formula: see text] is a [Formula: see text] transition. The decay [Formula: see text] is examined by color-allowed, color-suppressed spectator and weak annihilation diagrams. The weak annihilation topology, in contrast to decays of other beauty hadrons, is not suppressed and can contribute significantly to the decay amplitude. Because of the [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] branching fractions are calculated relative to the [Formula: see text] decay, this decay mode is estimated separately, the ratio between them are [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively, that are compatible with the experimental data.

Reconstructing particle masses in events with displaced vertices

We propose a simple way to extract particle masses given a displaced vertex signature in event topologies where two long-lived mother particles decay to visible particles and an invisible daughter. The mother could be either charged or neutral and the neutral daughter could correspond to a dark matter particle in different models. The method allows to extract the parent and daughter masses by using on-shell conditions and energy-momentum conservation, in addition to the displaced decay positions of the parents, which allows to solve the kinematic equations fully on an event-by-event basis. We show the validity of the method by means of simulations including detector effects. If displaced events are seen in discovery searches at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), this technique can be applied.

Features on Very Peripheral Collisions of 16O-Em at 3.7A GeV

From 1540 inelastic interactions of 3.7 A GeV 16O projectile with emulsion nuclei, we select samples of 87 and 61 events carefully due to interactions of neutron (n) and singly charged particles (Z = 1), respectively. New results concerning the topology of such events are investigated. The average multiplicities of secondary relativistic particles that appear as shower tracks for n and Z = 1 stay more or less constant when compared with analogous data on p-Em at similar energy. The multiplicity distributions and the average values of the various secondary charged particles are studied and compared with the corresponding predictions by the cascade evaporation model. The results assume that the n or Z = 1 from 16O collide peripherally with an emulsion target and are considered as an expansion to the N-N collisions.

Combined Optical and Electronic Readout for Event Reconstruction in a GEM-Based TPC

Optically read out time projection chambers (TPCs) based on gaseous electron multipliers (GEMs) combine 3-D event reconstruction capabilities with high spatial resolution and charge amplification factors. The approach of reconstructing particle tracks from 2-D projections obtained with imaging sensors and depth information from photomultiplier tubes is limited to specific cases such as straight particle trajectories. A combination of optical and electronic readout realized by a semitransparent anode placed between a triple-GEM stack and a camera in an optically read out TPC has been realized and used to reconstruct more complex particle tracks. High spatial resolution 2-D projections combined with a low number of charge readout channels enable accurate 3-D event topology reconstruction. Straight alpha tracks as well as more complex cosmic events have been reconstructed with the presented readout concept. Relative depth information from electronically read out charge signals has been combined with drift time information between primary and secondary scintillation pulses to absolute alpha track reconstructions.

Digital Hadron Calorimetry

The Particle Flow Algorithms attempt to measure each particle in a hadronic jet individually, using the detector providing the best energy/momentum resolution. Therefore, the spatial segmentation of the calorimeter plays a crucial role. In this context, the CALICE Collaboration developed the Digital Hadron Calorimeter. The Digital Hadron Calorimeter uses Resistive Plate Chambers as active media and has a 1-bit resolution (digital) readout of 1 × 1 cm2 pads. The calorimeter was tested with steel and tungsten absorber structures, as well as with no absorber structure, at the Fermilab and CERN test beam facilities over several years. In addition to conventional calorimetric measurements, the Digital Hadron Calorimeter offers detailed measurements of event shapes, rigorous tests of simulation models and various tools for improved performance due to its very high spatial granularity. Here we report on the results from the analysis of pion and positron events. Results of comparisons with the Monte Carlo simulations are also discussed. The analysis demonstrates the unique utilization of detailed event topologies.

Latest results on diffraction at HERA

Recent results on diffraction from the H1 and ZEUS experiments at HERA are presented. Measurement of open charm production in diffractive DIS has been performed by the H1 experiment using the event topology, given by ep → eXY, where the system X, containing at least one D*(2010) meson, is separated from a leading low-mass proton dissociative system Y by a large rapidity gap. The photoproduction of isolated photons is measured using diffractive events recorded by the ZEUS experiment. Cross sections are evaluated in the photon transverse-energy and pseudorapidity ranges 5 < EγT < 15 GeV and -0:7 < ηγ < 0:9, inclusively and with a jet with transverse-energy and pseudorapidity in the ranges 4 < EjetT < 35 GeV and -1:5 < ηjet < 1:8. The exclusive deep inelastic electroproduction and photoproduction of Ψ(2S ) and J=Ψ(1S) mesons has been also studied by ZEUS. The cross-section ratio σ(Ψ(2S))=σ(J=Ψ(1S)) has been measured as a function of Q2, W and t. The results are compared to several predictions of QCD-inspired models, providing tests of the models in a region of soft to hard diffraction.

NEXT: Searching for the ββ0νDecay at the LSC

The goal of the NEXT collaboration is the sensitive search of the neutrino-less double beta decay ([Formula: see text]) of [Formula: see text]Xe at the LSC. After a successful R&D phase, a first large-scale prototype of a high-pressure gas-Xenon electroluminescent TPC (NEW) is being operated at LSC since 2016. NEW is a 10-kg radiopure detector meant to understand the relevant backgrounds for the [Formula: see text]search and to perform a measurement of the two neutrino mode of the double beta decay ([Formula: see text]). The first phase of the NEW physics program comprises the commissioning of the detector and the data taking with calibration sources. This phase has allowed to understand the detector capabilities in terms of energy resolution and event topology reconstruction. The operation of NEW is setting the grounds for the construction of the NEXT-100 detector: a TPC holding 100 kg of [Formula: see text]Xe and reaching a sensitivity to the [Formula: see text]half-life of [Formula: see text] y after 3 years of data taking. The latest results of the NEW detector as well as the status of the NEXT-100 project are presented.

The Pandora multi-algorithm approach to automated pattern recognition of cosmic-ray muon and neutrino events in the MicroBooNE detector

The development and operation of liquid-argon time-projection chambers for neutrino physics has created a need for new approaches to pattern recognition in order to fully exploit the imaging capabilities offered by this technology. Whereas the human brain can excel at identifying features in the recorded events, it is a significant challenge to develop an automated, algorithmic solution. The Pandora Software Development Kit provides functionality to aid the design and implementation of pattern-recognition algorithms. It promotes the use of a multi-algorithm approach to pattern recognition, in which individual algorithms each address a specific task in a particular topology. Many tens of algorithms then carefully build up a picture of the event and, together, provide a robust automated pattern-recognition solution. This paper describes details of the chain of over one hundred Pandora algorithms and tools used to reconstruct cosmic-ray muon and neutrino events in the MicroBooNE detector. Metrics that assess the current pattern-recognition performance are presented for simulated MicroBooNE events, using a selection of final-state event topologies.

Recursive jigsaw reconstruction: HEP event analysis in the presence of kinematic and combinatoric ambiguities

We introduce $Recursive~Jigsaw~Reconstruction$, a technique for analyzing reconstructed particle interactions in the presence of kinematic and combinatoric unknowns associated with unmeasured and indistinguishable particles, respectively. By factorizing missing information according to decays and rest frames of intermediate particles, an interchangeable and configurable set of $Jigsaw~Rules$, algorithms for resolving these unknowns, are applied to approximately reconstruct decays with arbitrarily many particles, in their entirety. That the Recursive Jigsaw Reconstruction approach can be used to analyze $any$ event topology of interest, with any number of ambiguities, is demonstrated through a twelve different simulated LHC physics examples. These include the production and decay of $W$, $Z$, Higgs bosons, and supersymmetric particles including gluinos, stop quarks, charginos, and neutralinos.

Double-Cascade Events from New Physics in Icecube.

A variety of new physics models allows for neutrinos to up-scatter into heavier states. If the incident neutrino is energetic enough, the heavy neutrino may travel some distance before decaying. In this work, we consider the atmospheric neutrino flux as a source of such events. At IceCube, this would lead to a "double-bang" (DB) event topology, similar to what is predicted to occur for tau neutrinos at ultrahigh energies. The DB event topology has an extremely low background rate from coincident atmospheric cascades, making this a distinctive signature of new physics. Our results indicate that IceCube should already be able to derive new competitive constraints on models with GeV-scale sterile neutrinos using existing data.

Measurements of properties of the Higgs boson decaying into the four-lepton final state in pp collisions at sqrt{s}=13 TeV

Properties of the Higgs boson are measured in the H → ZZ → 4ℓ (ℓ = e, μ) decay channel. A data sample of proton-proton collisions at sqrt{s}=13 TeV, collected with the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1 is used. The signal strength modifier μ, defined as the ratio of the observed Higgs boson rate in the H → ZZ → 4ℓ decay channel to the standard model expectation, is measured to be μ = 1.05− 0.17+ 0.19 at mH = 125.09 GeV, the combined ATLAS and CMS measurement of the Higgs boson mass. The signal strength modifiers for the individual Higgs boson production modes are also measured. The cross section in the fiducial phase space defined by the requirements on lepton kinematics and event topology is measured to be 2. 92− 0.44+ 0.48(stat)− 0.24+ 0.28(syst)fb, which is compatible with the standard model prediction of 2.76 ± 0.14 fb. Differential cross sections are reported as a function of the transverse momentum of the Higgs boson, the number of associated jets, and the transverse momentum of the leading associated jet. The Higgs boson mass is measured to be mH = 125.26 ± 0.21 GeV and the width is constrained using the on-shell invariant mass distribution to be ΓH < 1.10 GeV, at 95% confidence level.

Resolving combinatorial ambiguities in dilepton tt¯ event topologies with constrained M2 variables

We advocate the use of on-shell constrained $M_2$ variables in order to mitigate the combinatorial problem in SUSY-like events with two invisible particles at the LHC. We show that in comparison to other approaches in the literature, the constrained $M_2$ variables provide superior ansatze for the unmeasured invisible momenta and therefore can be usefully applied to discriminate combinatorial ambiguities. We illustrate our procedure with the example of dilepton $t\bar{t}$ events. We critically review the existing methods based on the Cambridge $M_{T2}$ variable and MAOS-reconstruction of invisible momenta, and show that their algorithm can be simplified without loss of sensitivity, due to a perfect correlation between events with complex solutions for the invisible momenta and events exhibiting a kinematic endpoint violation. Then we demonstrate that the efficiency for selecting the correct partition is further improved by utilizing the $M_2$ variables instead. Finally, we also consider the general case when the underlying mass spectrum is unknown, and no kinematic endpoint information is available.

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

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.

Software compensation in particle flow reconstruction

The particle flow approach to calorimetry benefits from highly granular calorimeters and sophisticated software algorithms in order to reconstruct and identify individual particles in complex event topologies. The high spatial granularity, together with analogue energy information, can be further exploited in software compensation. In this approach, the local energy density is used to discriminate electromagnetic and purely hadronic sub-showers within hadron showers in the detector to improve the energy resolution for single particles by correcting for the intrinsic non-compensation of the calorimeter system. This improvement in the single particle energy resolution also results in a better overall jet energy resolution by improving the energy measurement of identified neutral hadrons and improvements in the pattern recognition stage by a more accurate matching of calorimeter energies to tracker measurements. This paper describes the software compensation technique and its implementation in particle flow reconstruction with the Pandora Particle Flow Algorithm (PandoraPFA). The impact of software compensation on the choice of optimal transverse granularity for the analogue hadronic calorimeter option of the International Large Detector (ILD) concept is also discussed.

Topological signature in the NEXT high pressure xenon TPC

The NEXT experiment aims to observe the neutrinoless double beta decay of 136Xe in a high-pressure xenon gas TPC using electroluminescence to amplify the signal from ionization. One of the main advantages of this technology is the possibility to use the topology of events with energies close to Qββ as an extra tool to reject background. In these proceedings we show with data from prototypes that an extra background rejection factor of 24.3 ± 1.4 (stat.)% can be achieved, while maintaining an efficiency of 66.7 ± 1.% for signal events. The performance expected in NEW, the next stage of the experiment, is to improve to 12.9% ± 0.6% background acceptance for 66.9% ± 0.6% signal efficiency.

Event identification for KM3NeT/ARCA

KM3NeT is a large research infrastructure consisting of a network of deep-sea neutrino telescopes. KM3NeT/ARCA will be the instrument detecting high-energy neutrinos with energies above 100 TeV. This instrument gives a new opportunity to observe the neutrino sky with very high angular resolution to be able to detect neutrino point sources. Furthermore it will be possible to probe the flavour composition of neutrino fluxes, and hence production mechanisms, with so-far unreached precision. Neutrinos produce different event topologies in the detector according to their flavour, interaction channel and deposited energy. Machine-learning algorithms are able to learn features of topologies to discriminate them. In previous analyses only two event types were regarded, namely the shower and track topology. With good timing resolution and precise reconstruction algorithms it is possible to separate into more event types, for example the double bang topology produced by tau neutrinos. The final goal is to distinguish all three neutrino flavors as much as possible. To resolve this issue the KM3NeT collaboration uses deep neural networks trained with Monte Carlo events of all neutrino types. This contribution shows the ability of KM3NeT/ARCA to classify events in more than two neutrino event topologies. Furthermore, the borders between detectable classes are shown, such as the minimum distance the tau has to travel before decaying into a tau neutrino to be detected as double bang event.