The Use of Neural Networks in High-Energy Physics

In the past few years a wide variety of applications of neural networks to pattern recognition in experimental high-energy physics has appeared. The neural network solutions are in general of high quality, and, in a number of cases, are superior to those obtained using "traditional'' methods. But neural networks are of particular interest in high-energy physics for another reason as well: much of the pattern recognition must be performed online, that is, in a few microseconds or less. The inherent parallelism of neural network algorithms, and the ability to implement them as very fast hardware devices, may make them an ideal technology for this application.