Overview

The MARIACHI Experiment

The recent observations of ultra high energy cosmic rays (UHECR) (subatomic particles with energies equivalent to a 100mph fastball) present a mystery whose solution may provide insight into the origins and evolution of the universe. There are no known sources within our own galaxy or those close to us that could accelerate particles to these enormous energies, and yet interactions of such particles with the cosmic microwave background should prevent their propagation from greater distances.

MARIACHI (Mixed Apparatus for Radar Investigation of Cosmic-rays of High Ionization) will search for UHECR by detecting reflected broadcast TV or FM radio signals originating from distant transmitters. MARIACHI will confirm these signals using scintillator arrays to be built and operated by high school students and teachers. Radio and scintillator sites around Long Island will use a computer grid to collect, display, and analyze the data. The grid will provide the means for students to engage in cosmic ray research utilizing advanced computing tools and infrastructure from their own schools.

MARIACHI is a unique scientific project that integrates innovative research with education. MARIACHI’s primary goals are to develop new detection and computing tools for studying UHECR while making these tools accessible to a diverse community of scientists, teachers, and students. This unique research approach has been recognized by the National Science Foundation in designating MARIACHI as a CI-TEAM implementation project with promise to effectively engage in research and education activities involving cyberinfrastructure.

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The paradigm of grid computing is a completely transparent global network of computing resources available to all users. It is the next logical step to the reality embodied by the World Wide Web via the Internet. Today users can access web sites without regard to the details of how the site is constructed or maintained. With the grid, the goal is to allow users to submit computing tasks, for example data analysis, and have results returned, without concern for where the computations are actually done. The key feature which enables this leap forward, is the cyberinfrastructure to assure the security of the both the user and the resource used.

The high school communities that participate in MARIACHI will have the opportunity to benefit in many ways. Teachers will be trained in the use of cutting edge hardware and software, and students will learn by hands-on involvement in the science.

MARIACHI’s web site will provide a wealth of information at levels from student to professional scientist, and will engage the students and teachers in the process of creating a “MARIACHI-Wiki”. Teachers are actively involved in the creation of lesson plans utilizing the MARIACHI equipment and cyberinfrastructure, and utilize the Wiki to give each other feedback from the lessons as taught. Students will have the opportunity to participate in the actual data-taking and analysis, and will be encouraged and supported to develop their own research projects.

The Wiki will allow interactive participation with the entire MARIACHI community, with input on the problems, issues, data, hardware, and software. Using the grid the students will be able to send their jobs for analysis to the same Open Science Grid developed for major scientific projects in physics and biology.

To learn more about MARIACHI and how you can participate we invite you to explore our website or contact us.