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Graph theory inspired anomaly detection at the LHC

Araz, J. Y. ORCID: 0000-0001-8721-8042, Athanasakos, D., Ploskon, M. & Ringer, F. (2026). Graph theory inspired anomaly detection at the LHC. Journal of High Energy Physics, 2026(2), article number 254. doi: 10.1007/jhep02(2026)254

Abstract

Designing model-independent anomaly detection algorithms for analyzing LHC data remains a central challenge in the search for new physics, due to the high dimensionality of collider events. In this work, we develop a graph autoencoder as an unsupervised, model-agnostic tool for anomaly detection, using the LHC Olympics dataset as a benchmark. By representing jet constituents as a graph, we introduce a method to systematically control the information available to the model through sparse graph constructions that serve as physically motivated inductive biases. Specifically, (1) we construct graph autoencoders based on locally rigid Laman graphs and globally rigid unique graphs, and (2) we explore the clustering of jet constituents into subjets to interpolate between high- and low-level input representations. We obtain the best performance, measured in terms of the Significance Improvement Characteristic curve for an intermediate level of subjet clustering and certain sparse unique graph constructions. We further investigate the role of graph connectivity in jet classification tasks. Our results demonstrate the potential of leveraging graph-theoretic insights to refine and increase the interpretability of machine learning tools for collider experiments.

Publication Type: Article
Additional Information: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY 4.0), which permits any use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.
Publisher Keywords: Automation, Jets and Jet Substructure
Subjects: Q Science > QA Mathematics
Departments: School of Science & Technology
School of Science & Technology > Department of Engineering
SWORD Depositor:
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