  We introduce jet topics: a framework to identify underlying classes of jets
from collider data. Because of a close mathematical relationship between
distributions of observables in jets and emergent themes in sets of documents,
we can apply recent techniques in "topic modeling" to extract jet topics from
data with minimal or no input from simulation or theory. As a proof of concept
with parton shower samples, we apply jet topics to determine separate quark and
gluon jet distributions for constituent multiplicity. We also determine
separate quark and gluon rapidity spectra from a mixed Z-plus-jet sample. While
jet topics are defined directly from hadron-level multi-differential cross
sections, one can also predict jet topics from first-principles theoretical
calculations, with potential implications for how to define quark and gluon
jets beyond leading-logarithmic accuracy. These investigations suggest that jet
topics will be useful for extracting underlying jet distributions and fractions
in a wide range of contexts at the Large Hadron Collider.
