Deep(er) Reconstruction of Imaging Cherenkov Detectors with Swin Transformers and Normalizing Flow Models

TL;DR

This paper introduces Deep(er)RICH, a novel approach using Swin Transformers and normalizing flows for fast, accurate particle identification and simulation in Cherenkov detectors, improving efficiency and realism.

Contribution

It extends DeepRICH with advanced Vision Transformers and normalizing flows, enabling superior speed and accuracy in PID and simulation for complex Cherenkov detector data.

Findings

Enhanced PID accuracy over traditional methods

Faster simulation of Cherenkov detector responses

Effective learning from real experimental data

Abstract

Imaging Cherenkov detectors are crucial for particle identification (PID) in nuclear and particle physics experiments. Fast reconstruction algorithms are essential for near real-time alignment, calibration, data quality control, and efficient analysis. At the future Electron-Ion Collider (EIC), the ePIC detector will feature a dual Ring Imaging Cherenkov (dual-RICH) detector in the hadron direction, a Detector of Internally Reflected Cherenkov (DIRC) in the barrel, and a proximity focus RICH in the electron direction. This paper focuses on the DIRC detector, which presents complex hit patterns and is also used for PID of pions and kaons in the GlueX experiment at JLab. We present Deep(er)RICH, an extension of the seminal DeepRICH work, offering improved and faster PID compared to traditional methods and, for the first time, fast and accurate simulation. This advancement addresses a major bottleneck in Cherenkov detector simulations involving photon tracking through complex optical elements. Our results leverage advancements in Vision Transformers, specifically hierarchical Swin Transformer and normalizing flows. These methods enable direct learning from real data and the reconstruction of complex topologies. We conclude by discussing the implications and future extensions of this work, which can offer capabilities for PID for multiple cutting-edge experiments like the future EIC.