Study of the Highest Energy Cosmic Rays

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This group proposes a research program involving collaboration with the HiRes cosmic ray project in Utah, and the ASPIRE K-12 outreach program which will expand to Montana. The HiRes experiment is designed to study high-energy enigmatic cosmic rays. The observation of these cosmic rays whose energy exceeded the Greisen-Zetsepin-Kuz'min cut-off led many to postulate that some fundamental processes may be responsible for particles of extraordinary energy. Fly's Eye, supported by NSF, made the first and the most convincing observation of the highest energy of the enigmatic cosmic rays. HiRes, the successor of Fly's Eye, is now in operation. The Aspire Project (Astrophysics Science Project Integrating Research and Education) is an NSF supported outreach project involving HiRes scientists, K-12 teachers, state education administrators, education specialists, and programmers. The goal of this project is to infuse recent discoveries made in fundamental astrophysics research into everyday science lessons and laboratories by utilizing interactive, inquiry-oriented, web-based technology.This project is an example of the NSF initiative of integrating research and education.