arXiv subjects

Pekka K. Sinervo

Publications and source records attributed to Pekka K. Sinervo.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Definition and Treatment of Systematic Uncertainties in High Energy Physics and Astrophysics

Systematic uncertainties in high energy physics and astrophysics are often significant contributions to the overall uncertainty in a measurement, in many cases being comparable to the statistical uncertainties. However, consistent definition and practice is elusive, as there are few formal definitions and there exists significant ambiguity in what is defined as a systematic and statistical uncertainty in a given analysis. I will describe current practice, and recommend a definition and classification of systematic uncertainties that allows one to treat these sources of uncertainty in a consistent and robust fashion. Classical and Bayesian approaches will be contrasted.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2011

A data-driven method of pile-up correction for the substructure of massive jets

We describe a method to measure and subtract the incoherent component of energy flow arising from multiple interactions from jet shape/substructure observables of ultra-massive jets. The amount subtracted is a function of the jet shape variable of interest and not a universal property. Such a correction is expected to significantly reduce any bias in the corresponding distributions generated by the presence of multiple interactions, and to improve measurement resolution. Since in our method the correction is obtained from the data, it is not subject to uncertainties coming from the use of theoretical calculations and/or Monte Carlo event generators. We derive our correction method for the jet mass, angularity and planar flow. We find these corrections to be in good agreement with data on massive jets observed by the CDF collaboration. Finally, we comment on the linkage with the concept of jet area and jet mass area.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2004

Interval estimation in the presence of nuisance parameters. 1. Bayesian approach

We address the common problem of calculating intervals in the presence of systematic uncertainties. We aim to investigate several approaches, but here describe just a Bayesian technique for setting upper limits. The particular example we study is that of inferring the rate of a Poisson process when there are uncertainties on the acceptance and the background. Limit calculating software associated with this work is available in the form of C functions.

physics.data-an↗

arXiv2002

Signal Significance in Particle Physics

The concept of the "statistical significance" of an observation, and how it is used in particle physics experiments is reviewed. More properly known as a "p-value," the statistical foundations for this concept are reviewed from a freqentist perspective. The discovery of the top quark at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider and a more recent analysis of data recorded at Fermilab are used to illustrate practical applications of these concepts.

hep-ex↗

arXiv1996

Top Quark Studies at Hadron Colliders

The techniques used to study top quarks at hadron colliders are presented. The analyses that discovered the top quark are described, with emphasis on the techniques used to tag b-quark jets in candidate events. The most recent measurements of top quark properties by the CDF and DZero collaborations are reviewed, including the top quark cross section, mass, branching fractions and production properties. Future top quark studies at hadron colliders are discussed, and predictions for event yields and uncertainties in the measurements of top quark properties are presented.

hep-ex↗