Detector Performance, Simulation and Reconstruction

ATLAS physics results depend on the smooth operation of its detector systems and the ability to accurately reconstruct the particles produced in collisions. Processing the enormous datasets from the LHC also requires powerful computing resources and detailed theoretical simulations of both signals and backgrounds to compare to data.

Liverpool played a major role in the construction of the Semiconductor tracker (SCT) at the heart of ATLAS, building one entire endcap in the state-of-the-art Liverpool Semiconductor Detector Centre (LSDC).   We continue to lead the SCT offline software and performance studies, ensuring it operates reliably even in conditions far beyond its original design.  Our group also contributes significantly to measuring the total data collected by ATLAS, known as the luminosity, by precisely counting Z boson decays. In addition, we support the broader running of the wider detector. 

Tau leptons and bottom (b) quarks are essential in studying the Higgs boson and in searches for new physics, which may couple preferentially to the third generation of particles. However, their decay signatures, observed as jets of particles, are challenging to identify and serrate from the large backgrounds.  Liverpool plays a leading role in the reconstruction and identification of tau leptons, developing advanced machine learning methods which enhance our ability to separate signal from background. We have long-standing major contributions to the calibration of b-jet tagging algorithms from data. 

Academic and Research Staff 

  • Dr John Anders 
    Prof Monica D’Onofrio  
    Dr Jordy Degens 
    Prof Carl Gwilliam 
    Prof Andy Mehta 
    Dr Nikos Rompotis

PhD Students 

  • Mr Mehul Depala 
    Mr Robert McNulty 

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