Machine Learning Methods for Track Classification in the AT-TPC

Michelle P. Kuchera, Raghuram Ramanujan, Jack Z. Taylor, Ryan R. Strauss, Daniel Bazin, Joshua Bradt, Ruiming Chen

Abstract: We evaluate machine learning methods for event classification in the Active-Target Time Projection Chamber detector at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) at Michigan State University. An automated method to single out the desired reaction product would result in more accurate physics results as well as a faster analysis process. Binary and multi-class classification methods were tested on data produced by the $^{46}$Ar(p,p) experiment run at the NSCL in September 2015. We found a Convolutional Neural Network to be the most successful classifier of proton scattering events for transfer learning. Results from this investigation and recommendations for event classification in future experiments are presented.