Project description
Machine learning algorithms will quickly detect the neutrino signal in experimental data
The IceCube Neutrino Observatory is the first detector of its kind. Buried beneath the surface of the South Pole and extending to a depth of about 2.5 kilometres encompassing about a cubic kilometre of ice, it searches for nearly massless neutral particles called neutrinos. Although they are one of the most abundant particles in the universe, neutrinos are extremely hard to detect due to their lack of reactivity with matter. Detection depends not only on IceCube's physical infrastructure but also on the data algorithms that search for tell-tale signs of neutrinos. The EU-funded GraphNeT project is developing sophisticated machine learning algorithms that could enhance particle detection 10-fold and the speed of analysis 10 000-fold. The fast and powerful tools could benefit other physics experiments as well.
Objective
While it is currently undergoing rapid developments, the neutrino sector still has many open questions: the neutrino mass
hierarchy is not known, several parameters of the PMNS matrix are poorly constrained, and the inability to explain the nonzero neutrino masses is a clear indication of physics beyond the Standard Model. Neutrino oscillation experiments at the
IceCube Neutrino Observatory may be able to address these fundamental questions, but the reconstruction of neutrino
interactions in the detector is a challenge which urgently needs to be addressed: the current reconstruction algorithm is
prohibitively time-consuming, cannot account for all known optical anisotropies in the ice, and cannot make full use of all of
the information from new modules in the IceCube Upgrade due to excessive computing time and memory requirements. This
project proposes graph convolutional neural networks (GCN) as a machine learning paradigm excellently suited for neutrino
telescope experiments, with potential to revolutionise reconstruction in IceCube. GCNs impose no structural requirements on
data, requiring only a concept of adjacency, naturally afforded by the spatial, temporal, and causal separation of hits in the
detector. With expected improvements in particle identification of a factor of 10 compared to analytical methods and a factor
10,000 speed-up in reconstruction, GCN-based reconstruction will be developed and implemented in the IceCube-DeepCore
oscillation analysis, to better measure PMNS parameters by improving the atmospheric muon background rejection and
performing per-flavour event categorisation. Powerful and fast GCN-based reconstruction will benefit several physics
analyses in IceCube --- and possibly ANTARES, KM3NeT, and Baikal-GVD --- and help answer the open questions in the
neutrino sector. Finally, the possibility for private and public sector partners to benefit from these high-performance GCN
tools will be explored through intersectional partnerships.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences theoretical physics particle physics neutrinos
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence machine learning
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence computational intelligence
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1165 KOBENHAVN
Denmark
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.