Searching for new physics with profile likelihoods: Wilks and beyond

Abstract: Particle physics experiments use likelihood ratio tests extensively to compare hypotheses and to construct confidence intervals. Often, the null distribution of the likelihood ratio test statistic is approximated by a $\chi^2$ distribution, following a theorem due to Wilks. However, many circumstances relevant to modern experiments can cause this theorem to fail. In this paper, we review how to identify these situations and construct valid inference.