1. Simulation and Physics Studies - Overview • aim: optimisation of vertex detector parameters and evaluation of its performance • two main areas of work: • Development of high-level reconstruction tools: • current focus: development of C++ based Vertex Package, interfaced to LCIO/MarlinReco comprising vertex finder ZVTOP, NN-based flavour tag and quark charge sign selection • aim for first release at the time of ECFA 2006 (Valencia) • release will be followed by work on upgrades • Study of Physics channels: • goal is to realistically quantify performance following vertex detector contribution to physics analysis through entire analysis chain • in parallel: performance comparison of different detector designs using fast MC SGV, • to be replaced by full simulation and reconstruction framework in the future

2. Current Status • coding, validation and documentation far advanced; • remaining issues mainly to do with integration / system test • ZVTOP (Ben Jeffery): coding almost completed • validation has focused on ZVRESbranch: performance at least as good as FORTRAN shown in detailed tests of increasing complexity; • initial tests of ZVKIN look promising; • coding calculation of flavour-tag inputs (Erik Devetak) • and integration of NN-software into our package (Mark Grimes) progressing • internal working classes designed, largely implemented and tested: • integration into MarlinReco beginning: test processors for ZVTOP & flavour-tag inputs exist • interface to LCIO and to event-input from MarlinReco-based event reconstruction need • further work

3. International Context • With the Detector Concept Reports to be completed by the end of the year, development • of software tools for full simulation gaining momentum: • much work on particle flow • tracking issues beginning to be addressed • - vertex standalone tracking developed • - integration of new tracking code with main and forward tracker still missing • LCFI Vertex Package eagerly awaited by the community: • central tool (most studies depend on vertex information) • can provide feedback on performance of tracking code • regular international phone meetings on simulation and physics: • ECFA Software and Physics Simulation Phone Meeting – monthly • SiD Tracking phone meeting (including vertexing) – weekly • SiD Benchmark meeting – biweekly new http://ilcagenda.cern.ch/conferenceDisplay.py?confId=1136