Statistical problems in particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology (Proc.PHYSTAT05)(ICP 2006)

Louis Lyons, Muge Karagoz Unel1860946496, 9781860946493, 9781860948985

These proceedings comprise current statistical issues in analyzing data in particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology, as discussed at the PHYSTAT05 conference in Oxford. This is a continuation of the popular “PHYSTAT” series; previous meetings were held at CERN (2000), Fermilab (2000), Durham (2002) and Stanford (2003). In-depth discussions on topical issues are presented by leading statisticians and research workers in their relevant fields. Included are invited reviews and contributed research papers presenting the latest, state-of-the-art techniques.

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Table of contents :
Contents……Page 8
Preface……Page 6
Bayes/Frequentist……Page 13
Frequentist and Bayesian Statistics: A Critique (Keynote Address)……Page 15
Generalized Frequentist Methods for Calculating p-Values and Confidence Intervals……Page 19
Bayesian Reference Analysis……Page 23
Cosmological Bayesian Model Selection……Page 27
Towards Reconciliation Between Bayesian and Frequentist Reasoning……Page 31
Goodness of Fit……Page 35
Goodness of Fit – With a View Towards Particle Physics……Page 37
Goodness-of-Fit for Sparse Distributions in High Energy Physics……Page 43
Likelihood Analysis and Goodness-of-Fit in Low Counting Rate Experiments……Page 47
The “Sieve” Algorithm – Sifting Data in the Real World……Page 51
x2 Test for the Comparison of Weighted and Unweighted Histograms……Page 55
Likelihood/Parameter Estimation……Page 57
Reduction of the Number of Variables in Parameter Inference……Page 59
Errors from the Likelihood Function……Page 63
Asymmetric Statistical Errors……Page 68
Bias-Free Estimation in Multicomponent Maximum Likelihood Fits with Component-Dependent Templates……Page 72
Least Squares Approach to the Alignment of the Generic High Precision Tracking System……Page 76
A New Fast Track-Fit Algorithm Based on Broken Lines……Page 80
Nuisance Parameters/Limits/Discovery……Page 85
Treatment of Nuisance Parameters in High Energy Physics and Possible Justifications and Improvements in the Statistics Literature……Page 87
Response (To Cousins)……Page 98
Ordering Algorithms and Confidence Intervals in the Presence of Nuisance Parameters……Page 100
Likelihood Ratio Intervals with Bayesian Treatment of Uncertainties: Coverage Power and Combined Experiments……Page 105
Limits and Confidence Intervals in the Presence of Nuisance Parameters……Page 109
The Bayesian Approach to Setting Limits: What to Avoid……Page 110
Statistically Dual Distributions in Statistical Inference……Page 114
Program for Evaluation of Significance Confidence Intervals and Limits by Direct Calculation of Probabilities……Page 118
Examining the Balance Between Optimising an Analysis for Best Limit Setting and Best Discovery Potential……Page 120
Statistical Challenges for Searches for New Physics at the LHC……Page 124
Machine Learning……Page 137
Separating Signal from Background Using Ensembles of Rules……Page 139
Comment on “Separating Signal from Background Using Ensembles of Rules”……Page 149
Boosted Decision Trees A Powerful Event Classifier……Page 151
Optimization of Signal Significance by Bagging Decision Trees……Page 155
Nonparametric Bayesian Classification with Massive Datasets: Large-Scale Quasar Discovery……Page 159
Bayesian Neural Networks……Page 163
Signal Enhancement Using Multivariate Classification Techniques and Physical Constraints……Page 167
Software……Page 171
Software for Statistics for Physics……Page 173
Statistical Computations with Astrogrid and the Grid……Page 179
sPlot: A Quick Introduction……Page 185
Easy Data Analysis Using R……Page 190
Statistics in Root……Page 194
The RooFit Toolkit for Data Modeling……Page 198
An Update on the Goodness-of-Fit Statistical Toolkit……Page 202
CEDAR: Combined E-Science Data Analysis Resource……Page 205
Visualisation……Page 207
Visualising Data……Page 209
Astrophysics……Page 221
Astrophysics with Terabytes of Data……Page 223
Multiscale Geometric Analysis of the 2DF Data……Page 231
Application of a Multidimensional Wavelet Denoising Algorithm for the Detection and Characterization of Astrophysical Sources of Gamma Rays……Page 241
Higher Criticism Statistic: Theory and Applications in Non-Gaussian Detection……Page 245
Expected Principal Component Analysis of Cosmic Microwave Background Anisotropies……Page 249
Time Series……Page 253
On-Line Inference for Data Streams……Page 255
Deconvolution……Page 265
Some Aspects of Statistical Image Modelling and Restoration……Page 267
Iterative Inversion Methods for Statistical Inverse Problems……Page 275
Unfolding with System Identification……Page 279
Summaries……Page 283
Statistics in Astrophysics and Cosmology: PhyStat05……Page 285
Summary of Some Statistical Issues……Page 291
Concluding Talk: Physics……Page 295
Appendices……Page 301
Questions for Panel Discussion……Page 303
Panel Discussion……Page 306
Committees……Page 320
List of Participants……Page 321