# Anomaly Awareness

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2007.14462 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2007.14462/

## Key facts

- Cited by 10 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 20 Jul 2020.

## Built on by (most cited first, 10 of 10)

- [Machine Learning in the Search for New Fundamental Physics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2112.03769/) (2021)
- [Better Latent Spaces for Better Autoencoders](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2104.08291/) (2021)
- [Learning new physics efficiently with nonparametric methods](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2204.02317/) (2022)
- [Challenges for Unsupervised Anomaly Detection in Particle Physics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2110.06948/) (2021)
- [Online-compatible Unsupervised Non-resonant Anomaly Detection](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2111.06417/) (2021)
- [Comparing Weak- and Unsupervised Methods for Resonant Anomaly Detection](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2104.02092/) (2021)
- [Snowmass 2021 Computational Frontier CompF03 Topical Group Report: Machine Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2209.07559/) (2022)
- [Improving new physics searches with diffusion models for event observables and jet constituents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.10130/) (2023)
- [TRANSIT your events into a new mass: Fast background interpolation for weakly-supervised anomaly searches](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.04342/) (2025)
- [Strengthening Anomaly Awareness](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2504.11520/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

We present a new algorithm for anomaly detection called Anomaly Awareness. The algorithm learns about normal events while being made aware of the anomalies through a modification of the cost function. We show how this method works in different Particle Physics situations and in standard Computer Vision tasks. For example, we apply the method to images from a Fat Jet topology generated by Standard Model Top and QCD events, and test it against an array of new physics scenarios, including Higgs production with EFT effects and resonances decaying into two, three or four subjets. We find that the algorithm is effective identifying anomalies not seen before, and becomes robust as we make it aware of a varied-enough set of anomalies.
