4 ms·
5 sigma is the customary limit for claiming “discovery” of a new phenomenon. Whereas 3 sigma is the normal exclusion limit. Meaning that in a search for a new p
by lokimedes 6y ago
5 sigma is the customary limit for claiming “discovery” of a new phenomenon. Whereas 3 sigma is the normal exclusion limit. Meaning that in a search for a new phenomenon the fluctuation from the expected background measurements must be more than 3 sigma away to claim that the null hypothesis is valid. So if that can’t be claimed the reverse may be “evidence of” new physics.
You can basically decode a particle physics article by keywording “search for”, “evidence for” and “discovery of” respectively.
- gpderetta 6y ago5 sigma is a rule of thumb and it still needs to be qualified. IIRC, while the Higgs discovery was officially announced when the signal reached 5 sigma, most scientists in the field were already comfortable talking about a discovery well before that threshold as there were very high expectations (a prior I guess?) that the Higgs had to be there. On the other hand, almost nobody believed the FTL Neutrino incident was real even if the signal was stronger than 5 sigma. Extraordinary claims still require extraordinary evidence. IANP and everything.