Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• PILLA, Ramani S
• LOADER, Catherine
• TAYLOR, Cyrus C

Titel

New technique for finding needles in haystacks : Geometric approach to distinguishing between a new source and random fluctuations

Ist Teil von

• Physical review letters, 2005-12, Vol.95 (23), p.230202.1-230202.4, Article 230202

Ort / Verlag

Ridge, NY: American Physical Society

Erscheinungsjahr

2005

Quelle

PROLA - Physical Review Online Archive

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• We propose a new test statistic based on a score process for determining the statistical significance of a putative signal that may be a small perturbation to a noisy experimental background. We derive the reference distribution for this score test statistic; it has an elegant geometrical interpretation as well as broad applicability. We illustrate the technique in the context of a model problem from high-energy particle physics. Monte Carlo experimental results confirm that the score test results in a significantly improved rate of signal detection.