Immersive Exploration of Detectors and Events
Led by physicist Yu-Mei Zhang and Zheng-Yun You, the research team has developed a VR-based visualization framework that immersively renders complex detector geometries and event information. Transcending the limitations of traditional visualization methods, this approach is pivotal for optimizing simulation and reconstruction algorithms, as well as enhancing physics analysis. Furthermore, it demonstrates significant potential for broader application in large-scale scientific facilities.
From Offline Software to Immersive Reality
Virtual Reality (VR) technology, powered by the Unity engine, has emerged as a pivotal visualization solution within high-energy physics experiments. Addressing the limitations of traditional frameworks regarding 3D rendering and cross-platform interactivity, this study on the JUNO experiment successfully establishes an immersive virtual environment.
This environment maintains strict alignment with detector geometric descriptions and event information derived from offline software. While preserving the high-precision geometric details of tens of thousands of Photomultiplier Tubes (PMTs), the system translates offline data into immersive VR scenes, offering a panoramic perspective for observing complex detector structures and physics events.
Spatial Interaction and Control
The team developed an application utilizing the Head-Mounted Display (Meta Quest 3). Central to this system is a Spatial User Interface that integrates a sub-detector geometry control panel and an event display control panel. By employing handheld controllers, researchers can not only manage sub-detectors and event information but also interact directly with individual detector units. Furthermore, the system supports free roaming within the virtual environment, facilitating a comprehensive inspection of both the internal detector geometry and physics event details.
Detector Unit and Event Visualization
This visualization approach accurately renders PMT hit information by employing a color gradient—ranging from light blue to dark blue—to represent hit multiplicity. Furthermore, utilizing a high-performance particle system, it dynamically simulates photon propagation paths. The system provides tailored interaction modes for distinct types of events. For Inverse Beta Decay (IBD) signals, it clearly visualizes the temporal correlation between positron and neutron signals, specifically highlighting the characteristic delay of approximately 170 µs. In the case of high-energy cosmic muons, the system reproduces the trajectories traversing the detector and the associated energy deposition processes. Crucially, researchers can replay and inspect these event evolutions at nanosecond-level increments.
Facilitating Frontier Exploration in Neutrino Physics
The team is applying this immersive platform to key phases of the detector's operation, focusing on the detailed analysis of neutrino signal events and the search for rare signals. Future research aims to utilize this immersive interactive experience to examine event hit patterns, facilitating the identification of potential patterns and anomalies within complex datasets.
"VR technology provides physicists with an analysis platform that simulates the experience of being inside the detector," stated Professor Zheng-Yun You from Sun Yat-sen University. "Through the VR interface, we can reconstruct an immersive view of the event in three-dimensional space, allowing us to freely explore the data, observe details from multiple perspectives, and identify potential patterns and anomalies."
The complete study is via by DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41365-026-01900-x
