SimulationPhysIntro

Introduction

Computer simulations allow the Mu2e Experiment to evaluate what signal events will look like in our detector and to layer different background processes on top of simulated signal events. This work is done with the goal of optimizing the detector design and analysis strategy to get the best sensitivity from our measurement. The simulation begins with a particular particle or physics process, such as muon to electron conversion or muons with energies typical for cosmic rays, and maps our understanding of how the physics event unfolds on to the geometry and materials of the experiment. If our detectors are modeled well and our physics understanding is good, the output of the simulation will look like the experiment’s data.