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Herrero-Garcia, J., Patrick, R., & Scaffidi, A. (2022). A semi-supervised approach to dark matter searches in direct detection data with machine learning. J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys., 02, 039–19pp.
Abstract: The dark matter sector remains completely unknown. It is therefore crucial to keep an open mind regarding its nature and possible interactions. Focusing on the case of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles, in this work we make this general philosophy more concrete by applying modern machine learning techniques to dark matter direct detection. We do this by encoding and decoding the graphical representation of background events in the XENONnT experiment with a convolutional variational autoencoder. We describe a methodology that utilizes the `anomaly score' derived from the reconstruction loss of the convolutional variational autoencoder as well as a pre-trained standard convolutional neural network, in a semi-supervised fashion. Indeed, we observe that optimum results are obtained only when both unsupervised and supervised anomaly scores are considered together. A data set that has a higher proportion of anomaly score is deemed anomalous and deserves further investigation. Contrary to classical analyses, in principle all information about the events is used, preventing unnecessary information loss. Lastly, we demonstrate the reach of learning-focused anomaly detection in this context by comparing results with classical inference, observing that, if tuned properly, these techniques have the potential to outperform likelihood-based methods.
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Khosa, C. K., Sanz, V., & Soughton, M. (2022). A simple guide from machine learning outputs to statistical criteria in particle physics. SciPost Phys. Core, 5(4), 050–31pp.
Abstract: In this paper we propose ways to incorporate Machine Learning training outputs into a study of statistical significance. We describe these methods in supervised classification tasks using a CNN and a DNN output, and unsupervised learning based on a VAE. As use cases, we consider two physical situations where Machine Learning are often used: high-pT hadronic activity, and boosted Higgs in association with a massive vector boson.
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Muñoz, E., Barrientos, L., Bernabeu, J., Borja-Lloret, M., Llosa, G., Ros, A., et al. (2020). A spectral reconstruction algorithm for two-plane Compton cameras. Phys. Med. Biol., 65(2), 025011–17pp.
Abstract: One factor limiting the current applicability extent of hadron therapy is the lack of a reliable method for real time treatment monitoring. The use of Compton imaging systems as monitors requires the correct reconstruction of the distribution of prompt gamma productions during patient irradiation. In order to extract the maximum information from all the measurable events, we implemented a spectral reconstruction method that assigns to all events a probability of being either partial or total energy depositions. The method, implemented in a list-mode maximum likelihood expectation maximization algorithm, generates a four dimensional image in the joint spatial-spectral domain, in which the voxels containing the emission positions and energies are obtained. The analytical model used for the system response function is also employed to derive an analytical expression for the sensitivity, which is calculated via Monte Carlo integration. The performance of the method is evaluated through reconstruction of various experimental and simulated sources with different spatial and energy distributions. The results show that the proposed method can recover the spectral and spatial information simultaneously, but only under the assumption of ideal measurements. The analysis of the Monte Carlo simulations has led to the identification of two important degradation sources: the mispositioning of the gamma interaction point and the missing energy recorded in the interaction. Both factors are related to the high energy transferred to the recoil electrons, which can travel far from the interaction point and even escape the detector. These effects prevent the direct application of the current method in more realistic scenarios. Nevertheless, experimental point-like sources have been accurately reconstructed and the spatial distributions and spectral emission of complex simulated phantoms can be identified.
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Aguilera-Verdugo, J. D., Driencourt-Mangin, F., Hernandez-Pinto, R. J., Plenter, J., Prisco, R. M., Ramirez-Uribe, N. S., et al. (2021). A Stroll through the Loop-Tree Duality. Symmetry-Basel, 13(6), 1029–37pp.
Abstract: The Loop-Tree Duality (LTD) theorem is an innovative technique to deal with multi-loop scattering amplitudes, leading to integrand-level representations over a Euclidean space. In this article, we review the last developments concerning this framework, focusing on the manifestly causal representation of multi-loop Feynman integrals and scattering amplitudes, and the definition of dual local counter-terms to cancel infrared singularities.
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LHCb Collaboration(Aaij, R. et al), Jaimes Elles, S. J., Jashal, B. K., Martinez-Vidal, F., Oyanguren, A., Rebollo De Miguel, M., et al. (2023). A study of CP violation in the decays B± → [K+ K- π+π-]Dh± (h = K, π) and B± → [π+ π- π+ π-]Dh±. Eur. Phys. J. C, 83(6), 547–23pp.
Abstract: The first study of CP violation in the decay mode B-+/- -> [K+K-pi(+)pi(-)](D)h(+/-), with h = K, pi, is presented, exploiting a data sample of proton-proton collisions collected by the LHCb experiment that corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 9fb(-1). The analysis is performed in bins of phase space, which are optimised for sensitivity to local CP asymmetries. CP-violating observables that are sensitive to the angle gamma of the Unitarity Triangle are determined. The analysis requires external information on charm-decay parameters, which are currently taken from an amplitude analysis of LHCb data, but can be updated in the future when direct measurements become available. Measurements are also performed of phase-space integrated observables for B-+/- -> [K+K-pi(+)pi(-)](D)h(+/-) and B-+/- -> [pi(+)pi(-)pi(+)pi(-)](D)h(+/-) decays.
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Valdes-Cortez, C., Mansour, I., Rivard, M. J., Ballester, F., Mainegra-Hing, E., Thomson, R. M., et al. (2021). A study of Type B uncertainties associated with the photoelectric effect in low-energy Monte Carlo simulations. Phys. Med. Biol., 66(10), 105014–14pp.
Abstract: Purpose. To estimate Type B uncertainties in absorbed-dose calculations arising from the different implementations in current state-of-the-art Monte Carlo (MC) codes of low-energy photon cross-sections (<200 keV). Methods. MC simulations are carried out using three codes widely used in the low-energy domain: PENELOPE-2018, EGSnrc, and MCNP. Three dosimetry-relevant quantities are considered: mass energy-absorption coefficients for water, air, graphite, and their respective ratios; absorbed dose; and photon-fluence spectra. The absorbed dose and the photon-fluence spectra are scored in a spherical water phantom of 15 cm radius. Benchmark simulations using similar cross-sections have been performed. The differences observed between these quantities when different cross-sections are considered are taken to be a good estimator for the corresponding Type B uncertainties. Results. A conservative Type B uncertainty for the absorbed dose (k = 2) of 1.2%-1.7% (<50 keV), 0.6%-1.2% (50-100 keV), and 0.3% (100-200 keV) is estimated. The photon-fluence spectrum does not present clinically relevant differences that merit considering additional Type B uncertainties except for energies below 25 keV, where a Type B uncertainty of 0.5% is obtained. Below 30 keV, mass energy-absorption coefficients show Type B uncertainties (k = 2) of about 1.5% (water and air), and 2% (graphite), diminishing in all materials for larger energies and reaching values about 1% (40-50 keV) and 0.5% (50-75 keV). With respect to their ratios, the only significant Type B uncertainties are observed in the case of the water-to-graphite ratio for energies below 30 keV, being about 0.7% (k = 2). Conclusions. In contrast with the intermediate (about 500 keV) or high (about 1 MeV) energy domains, Type B uncertainties due to the different cross-sections implementation cannot be considered subdominant with respect to Type A uncertainties or even to other sources of Type B uncertainties (tally volume averaging, manufacturing tolerances, etc). Therefore, the values reported here should be accommodated within the uncertainty budget in low-energy photon dosimetry studies.
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Hinarejos, M., Bañuls, M. C., & Perez, A. (2013). A Study of Wigner Functions for Discrete-Time Quantum Walks. J. Comput. Theor. Nanosci., 10(7), 1626–1633.
Abstract: We perform a systematic study of the discrete time Quantum Walk on one dimension using Wigner functions, which are generalized to include the chirality (or coin) degree of freedom. In particular, we analyze the evolution of the negative volume in phase space, as a function of time, for different initial states. This negativity can be used to quantify the degree of departure of the system from a classical state. We also relate this quantity to the entanglement between the coin and walker subspaces.
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HAWC Collaboration(Albert, A. et al), & Salesa Greus, F. (2021). A Survey of Active Galaxies at TeV Photon Energies with the HAWC Gamma-Ray Observatory. Astrophys. J., 907(2), 67–18pp.
Abstract: The High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Gamma-Ray Observatory continuously detects TeV photons and particles within its large field of view, accumulating every day a deeper exposure of two-thirds of the sky. We analyzed 1523 days of HAWC live data acquired over four and a half years, in a follow-up analysis of 138 nearby (z < 0.3) active galactic nuclei from the Third Catalog of Hard Fermi-LAT sources culminating within 40 degrees of the zenith at Sierra Negra, the HAWC site. This search for persistent TeV emission used a maximum-likelihood analysis assuming intrinsic power-law spectra attenuated by pair production of gamma-ray photons with the extragalactic background light. HAWC clearly detects persistent emission from Mkn 421 and Mkn 501, the two brightest blazars in the TeV sky, at 65 sigma and 17 sigma level, respectively. Marginal evidence, just above the 3 sigma level, was found for three other known very high-energy emitters: the radio galaxy M87 and the BL Lac objects VER J0521+211 and 1ES 1215+303, the latter two at z similar to 0.1. We find a 4.2 sigma evidence for collective emission from the set of 30 previously reported very high-energy sources, with Mkn 421 and Mkn 501 excluded. Upper limits are presented for the sample under the power-law assumption and in the predefined (0.5-2.0), (2.0-8.0), and (8.0-32.0) TeV energy intervals.
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Hooper, D., Leane, R. K., Tsai, Y. D., Wegsman, S., & Witte, S. J. (2020). A systematic study of hidden sector dark matter: application to the gamma-ray and antiproton excesses. J. High Energy Phys., 07(7), 163–38pp.
Abstract: In hidden sector models, dark matter does not directly couple to the particle content of the Standard Model, strongly suppressing rates at direct detection experiments, while still allowing for large signals from annihilation. In this paper, we conduct an extensive study of hidden sector dark matter, covering a wide range of dark matter spins, mediator spins, interaction diagrams, and annihilation final states, in each case determining whether the annihilations are s-wave (thus enabling efficient annihilation in the universe today). We then go on to consider a variety of portal interactions that allow the hidden sector annihilation products to decay into the Standard Model. We broadly classify constraints from relic density requirements and dwarf spheroidal galaxy observations. In the scenario that the hidden sector was in equilibrium with the Standard Model in the early universe, we place a lower bound on the portal coupling, as well as on the dark matter's elastic scattering cross section with nuclei. We apply our hidden sector results to the observed Galactic Center gamma-ray excess and the cosmic-ray antiproton excess. We find that both of these excesses can be simultaneously explained by a variety of hidden sector models, without any tension with constraints from observations of dwarf spheroidal galaxies.
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Leite, J., Popov, O., Srivastava, R., & Valle, J. W. F. (2020). A theory for scotogenic dark matter stabilised by residual gauge symmetry. Phys. Lett. B, 802, 135254–10pp.
Abstract: Dark matter stability can result from a residual matter-parity symmetry, following naturally from the spontaneous breaking of the gauge symmetry. Here we explore this idea in the context of the SU(3)(c) circle times SU(3)L circle times U(1)(x) circle times U(1)(N) electroweak extension of the standard model. The key feature of our new scotogenic dark matter theory is the use of a triplet scalar boson with anti-symmetric Yukawa couplings. This naturally implies that one of the light neutrinos is massless and, as a result, there is a lower bound for the O nu beta beta decay rate.
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