Success Stories: Algorithms Advance

Where are tiny, nearly invisible particles called neutrinos coming from? Answering this question is easier said than done, but a new algorithm aims to answer this question. A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa student-led team has developed a new algorithm to help scientists determine direction in complex 2D data. The team found a formula that lets them match patterns in data and accurately pinpoint the direction of the source.

The algorithm uses a mathematical tool called the Frobenius norm to measure differences between grids of numbers, effectively acting as a “distance formula” for large data tables. By rotating a reference dataset and comparing it to measured data, the algorithm identifies the rotation that produces the smallest difference, revealing the most likely direction of the signal.

Simulations show the method works especially well with high-resolution data and large datasets. The project began with simulated neutrino data to locate nuclear reactors, and ...