The government of Storinia has proposed to conduct several particle

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Question # 74, Date : 13-Dec-2019
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The government of Storinia has proposed to conduct several particle physics experiments in Antarctica, as described below.

The ultra-high-energy cosmic ray detector (UHECR-D) will track a variety of subatomic particles traveling from outer space with exceptionally high kinetic energy by recording secondary showers of particles created by these UHECRs as they collide with the upper atmosphere.

The polyethylene naphthalate neutrino observatory (PEN-NO) will search for neutrinos, extremely light and fast subatomic particles that interact only weakly with normal matter. To prevent spurious results from cosmic rays, PEN-NO will be buried deep below the ice.

The magnetic monopole detector (MaMoD) will attempt to verify the existence of magnetic monopoles, hypothetical subatomic particles postulated by some physical theories to be left over from the creation of the universe.

The purpose of UHECR-D is to ascertain the identity, composition, and extraterrestrial origin of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, which are much less prevalent and well-understood than lower-energy cosmic rays. PEN-NO will measure the mass and speed of neutrinos produced in particle accelerators and nuclear reactors, both to reduce uncertainty in the known mass of a neutrino and to contribute to the resolution of a recent challenge to Einstein's theory of relativity posed by the observation of neutrinos supposedly traveling slightly faster than light. PEN-NO will also measure the passage of solar and other neutrinos of astronomical origin. Finally, if MaMoD is successful in its search, it will provide experimental proof for Dirac's explanation of charge quantization and fix an asymmetry in Maxwell's equations of electromagnetism.

The government of Storinia projects that it will cost $42 million in total and take 2 years to construct UHECR-D, PEN-NO, and MaMoD. The government also projects that once construction is finished, the annual operating budget for each experiment will be $3.6 million for UHECR-D, $4.3 million for PEN-NO, and $2.7 million for MaMoD. All these figures are in real 2012 dollars (removing the effect of predicted inflation).