On influence of experimental resolution on the statistical significance of a signal: implication for pentaquark searches

TL;DR

This paper derives an analytical formula linking signal significance to signal width amidst large background noise, aiding interpretation of experimental results and planning future searches for new particles like pentaquarks.

Contribution

It provides a new analytical relationship between signal significance and width, explaining discrepancies in high-energy experiments and guiding future experimental design.

Findings

Derived an analytical formula relating significance and signal width.

Applied the formula to pentaquark search data.

Provided insights into experimental discrepancies and planning.

Abstract

An analytical relationship between the statistical significance of an observed signal and the signal width in case of a large background was obtained. It can help to explain why high-energy experiments may have different conclusions on the existence of new particles. We illustrate our approach using the experimental data on searches for the Theta+(1530) pentaquark state. The obtained relationship is also useful for planning of future experiments designed to search for signals of new particles in invariant-mass distributions.