Undergrad The purpose of trigonometric axes in plot of electron clusters, ATLAS

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The discussion focuses on the choice of using cos(phi) * tan(theta) and sin(phi) * tan(theta) for the x and y axes in electron cluster plots from proton-proton collisions at CERN. This method allows for consistent angle comparisons across different experiments, which is more effective than using physical dimensions. The non-zero depth of the calorimeter necessitates this approach to avoid smearing clusters that diverge from the interaction point. Projecting onto a fixed plane is considered less efficient and less informative. Overall, the chosen plotting method enhances clarity and accuracy in analyzing electron clusters.
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Why use trigonometric axes for the plot?
I have been doing some reading on electron reconstruction from proton-proton collisions at CERN. In some of the papers I have read, plots such as the one In the figure are included. What I would like to know is why they have chosen to plot the x and y axes as cos(phi) * tan(theta) and sin(phi) * tan(theta)?
 

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Angles can be compared across experiments, physical dimensions cannot. In addition the calorimeter has some non-zero depth, so just plotting x and y would smear out clusters that point away from the interaction point. You could project everything onto a fixed plane, but that's just extra effort for a less useful result.
 

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