Descriptif

Lecturers: Jean-Claude BRIENT, Emilien CHAPON

The two parts below are quite independent and lectures will be spread with some alternation during the whole teaching period.

Part A

The course will provide an introduction to Data Analysis techniques. The aim is to develop the basics of probabilities and statistics as needed to exploit experimental data, once at hand.
High Energy experiments may involve either precise measurements based on large data sample, or searches for discovery relying on small data sample. In both cases, a sound understanding of statistical methods is mandatory. After a brief review of probabilities, the course will have as a first main topic the chi2 method for a one-dimensional situation, then for a multi-dimensional situation. The second main topic will be the Maximum Likelihood method, and related subjects. The third main topic will present some statistical techniques used for searches for new phenomena. Finally, an introduction to the subject of multi-variate analyses will be given.
The mathematics needed is mostly elementary, except for the demonstration of the Likelihood properties. Examples of applications of the techniques will be taken from current and past experiments.

Bibliographical reference:
- "Statistical Methods in Experimental Physics”, Second Edition, Frederick James (CERN) World Scientific (2006).
- "Statistical Data Analysis”, Glen Cowan (London) Clarendon Press, Oxford (1998).

Part B

The domains covered by the course are the conception of an experiment, its detector design and running. The aim of the course is to provide a high level background for a PhD in experimental physics as well as a comprehensive overview for a theoretical PhD.
The way science is progressing is based on round trip from theory to experimental results. The understanding of this trip and the way experiments can answer theoretical questions is the subject of this course. The course will first present an introduction to the physics of the detectors used in high energy physics and astroparticle physics. A significant part of the course will be devoted to understanding how the theoretical questions influence directly the design of the experiments and the choice of detectors. The help of several examples in the different domains of the field will be used. This part of the course will include a review of the central questions of the measurements systematic errors.
The course will also provide an introduction to software and computing environment, to industrial constraints on large detectors, to the world organisation of the domains and to the management and organisation of large experimental projects. A review of future experimental projects will be given.

Bibliographical reference:
- "Radiation Detection and Measurement", Fourth Edition, Glenn F. Knoll (Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor) , September 2010 (2nd ed 1989)
- "Techniques for Nuclear and Particle Physics Experiments", A How-to approach , W.R. Leo , Springer-Verlag (2nd edition)

ECTS credits: 8