Data Unfolding: From Problem Formulation to Result Assessment
Nikolay D. Gagunashvili

TL;DR
This paper reviews methods for assessing the quality of data unfolding in experimental physics, emphasizing internal criteria and factors affecting the accuracy of true probability density function estimation.
Contribution
It introduces a comprehensive discussion on internal quality assessment methods and factors influencing the accuracy of unfolding procedures in complex experimental systems.
Findings
Internal criteria can effectively evaluate unfolding quality without external benchmarks.
Factors like resolution, bias, and efficiency significantly impact unfolding accuracy.
The paper provides guidelines for assessing and improving unfolding results.
Abstract
Experimental data in particle and nuclear physics, particle astrophysics, and radiation protection dosimetry are collected using experimental facilities that consist of a complex system of sensors, electronics, and software. Measured spectra or cross sections are considered as Probability Density Functions (PDFs) that deviate from true PDFs due to resolution, bias, and efficiency effects. Unfolding is viewed as a procedure for estimating an unknown true PDF. Reliable estimates of the true PDF are necessary for testing theoretical models, comparing results from different experiments, and combining results from various research endeavors. Both external and internal quality assessment methods can be applied for this purpose. In some cases, external criteria exist to evaluate deconvolution quality. A typical example is the deconvolution of a blurred image, where the sharpness of the…
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Taxonomy
TopicsRadiation Detection and Scintillator Technologies · Radiation Therapy and Dosimetry · Medical Imaging Techniques and Applications
