Bayesian Learning of Neural Networks for Signal/Background Discrimination in Particle Physics

Neural networks are used extensively in classification problems in particle physics research. Since the training of neural networks can be viewed as a problem of inference, Bayesian learning of neural networks can provide more optimal and robust results than conventional learning methods. We have investigated the use of Bayesian neural networks for signal/background discrimination in the search for second generation leptoquarks at the Tevatron, as an example. We present a comparison of the results obtained from the conventional training of feedforward neural networks and networks trained with Bayesian methods.