The Durham elementary particle data bank, data analysis and model comparison project

In comparing theoretical models with data the first problem encountered is the retrieval of data from published sources and its storage in such a way as to make it readily accessible. The second is to implement programs which check the data for consistency and any recurring characteristics. The third is to produce an efficiently written program to compare the theoretical model with the data, the program being written as a function of N parameters so that it can be coupled to a minimizing program such as CERN MINUIT. Between each step, interface, retrieval and storage problems arise. The authors discuss the organization of the Durham project, the Data Bank software and retrieval techniques and the integration of model independent software with the Data Bank. This project is being carried out on the Northumbrian Universities Multiple Access Computer (NUMAC) an IBM 360 /67 operating under the Michigan Terminal System (MTS). (10 refs).