A method for comparing non-nested models with application to astrophysical searches for new physics
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Algeri, S
Conrad, J
van Dyk, David
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Searches for unknown physics and decisions between competing astrophysical models to explain data both rely on statistical hypothesis testing. The usual approach in searches for new physical phenomena is based on the statistical likelihood ratio test and its asymptotic properties. In the common situation, when neither of the two models under comparison is a special case of the other i.e. when the hypotheses are non-nested, this test is not applicable. In astrophysics, this problem occurs when two models that reside in different parameter spaces are to be compared. An important example is the recently reported excess emission in astrophysical γ-rays and the question whether its origin is known astrophysics or dark matter. We develop and study a new, simple, generally applicable, frequentist method and validate its statistical properties using a suite of simulations studies. We exemplify it on realistic simulated data of the Fermi-Large Area Telescope γ-ray satellite, where non-nested hypotheses testing appears in the search for particle dark matter.
Date Issued
2016-02-15
Date Acceptance
2016-02-10
Citation
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters, 2016, 458 (1), pp.L84-L88
ISSN
1745-3933
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Start Page
L84
End Page
L88
Journal / Book Title
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Volume
458
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2016 The Authors. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters following peer review. The version of record is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/mnrasl/slw025
Sponsor
The Royal Society
Commission of the European Communities
Stockholm University
Grant Number
WM110023
FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG-321865
Subjects
0201 Astronomical And Space Sciences
Publication Status
Published