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

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.

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Publication Details

Journal
Physical review. D/Physical review. D.
Published
2025-05-29
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.111.094041
Primary Topic
Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

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

Ranit Das, Gregor Kasieczka, Thorben Finke, David Shih et al.
Physical review. D/Physical review. D.
Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies
article

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

Ranit Das, Gregor Kasieczka, Thorben Finke, David Shih, Alexander Mück, Marie Hein, Michael Krämer
article en

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.

Physical review. D/Physical review. D.Vol. 111(9)
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US), Universität Hamburg (DE), Rutgers Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (NL), RWTH Aachen University (DE)
National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, Aspen Center for Physics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, RWTH Aachen University, Office of Science, Office of Advanced Research Computing, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Openalex Percentile: Top 94%
Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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Accurate and robust methods for direct background estimation in resonant anomaly detection — Ranit Das, Gregor Kasieczka, et al. · Physical review. D/Physical review. D. (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS