The VALOR-SDK is a highly abstracted, powerful and experiment-agnostic analysis framework for neutrino oscillation studies and BSM searches in use across a range of neutrino experiments.
Experiment-specific VALOR analyses are built on top of the VALOR-SDK, primarily through XML configuration files. These define:
- Event samples: A list of samples to be included in the fit, each corresponding to a specific combination of beam configuration, detector, and observed topology.
- Reconstructed kinematics: The variables and binning scheme for each sample’s reconstructed distribution to be fit.
- Contribution modes: A list of modes—typically generator-level MC truth interaction channels—tracked separately for each fit distribution. A carefully chosen set of modes ensures proper application of systematic uncertainties and physics hypotheses.
- MC-truth distributions: For each mode in each sample, the MC-truth kinematic variables and binning are specified for every reconstructed bin. These enable systematics and physics hypotheses to be applied correctly. The combined multi-dimensional distribution, spanning both reconstructed and MC-truth variables for each mode in every sample, is referred to as an MC template.
- Systematic parameters:** The list of systematics to include in the fit.
- Systematic priors and correlations:** The prior uncertainties and input correlations between systematic parameters.
- Systematic impacts: A detailed specification of how each systematic parameter modifies kinematic bins in the MC templates for each mode and sample.
- Physics hypotheses: The chosen oscillation framework (e.g., three-flavour, 3+1 sterile, etc.), the parameters of interest, their fit ranges, and any external constraints.
For more information, see https://www.overleaf.com/read/ygmrxrjtmwyv
Copyright (c) 2010-2025, The VALOR Group.
The VALOR SDK is made available under the VALOR Restrictive Academic Research License. The license provides limited rights. Please make sure you read the full text here.
- Costas Andreopoulos, University of Liverpool
- Yaoqi Cao, University of Warwick
- Thomas Dealtry, Lancaster University
- Ziou He, University of Warwick
- Rhiannon Jones, University of Sheffield
- Komninos-John Plows, University of Liverpool
- Davide Sgalaberna, ETHZ
- Beth Slater, University of Liverpool
Past authors:
- Maria Antonova, IFIC Valencia
- Dom Barker, University of Sheffield
- Chistopher Barry, University of Liverpool
- Francis Bench, University of Liverpool
- Andrew Chappell, University of Warwick
- Steve Dennis, University of Warwick & STFC/RAL; University of Liverpool; University of Cambridge
- Lorena Escudero, University of Cambridge; IFIC Valencia
- Nick Grant, STFC/RAL; Lancaster University; University of Warwick
- Thomas Ham, University of Liverpool
- Tereza Kroupova, University of Pennsylvania
- Jaiden Parlone, University of Liverpool
- Raj Shah, University of Oxford & STFC/RAL
Professor Costas Andreopoulos
University of Liverpool, Department of Physics
Oliver Lodge Lab 316, Liverpool L69 7ZE, UK
E-Mail: < c.andreopoulos \at cern.ch >
Tel: +44-1517-943201 (office) | +44-7540-847333 (mobile)