sPHENIX 3-D Topological Calorimeter Clusters in Run-24 p+p Data

The sPHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) uses an Electromagnetic Calorimeter and two Hadronic Calorimeters with granularity in 𝜂-ɸ to measure particles produced in proton-proton collisions. Energy deposits from showering particles are measured using a series of calorimeter towers, each with their own measured energy and expected noise level. The reconstruction of calorimeter showers by grouping individual calorimeter towers into three-dimensional topological clusters has proven a reliable noise suppression method in experiments at the LHC and other facilities. Using an iterative growth algorithm that determines tower inclusion based on the significance of the tower energy above noise, this method offers a single tool for mapping showers ranging from purely photonic to deeply hadronic. By identifying energy deposits from individual particles, topological clustering is also useful for jet reconstruction. This presentation encompasses a series of studies on topocluster reconstruction in RHIC Run-24 p+p data and discusses the broader scope within the sPHENIX physics program.