Using Likelihood for Combined Data Set Analysis

Understand

The joint likelihood is a simple extension of the standard likelihood formalism that enables the estimation of common parameters across disjoint datasets.

• Joining the likelihood, rather than the data itself, means nuisance parameters can be dealt with independently.
• Application of this technique, particularly to Fermi-LAT dwarf spheroidal analyses, has already been met with great success.
• We present a description of the method's general implementation along with a toy Monte-Carlo study of its properties and limitations.