Evaluating query languages and systems for high-energy physics data

In the domain of high-energy physics (HEP), query languages in general and SQL particular have found limited acceptance. This is surprising since HEP data analysis matches model well: fully structured queried using mostly standard operators. To gain insights on why this case, we perform a comprehensive six diverse, general-purpose processing platforms an benchmark. The result evaluation interesting rather complex picture existing solutions: Their vary greatly how natural concise patterns can be expressed. Furthermore, most them are also between one two orders magnitude slower than domain-specific system used by particle physicists today. These observations suggest that, while database systems their principle viable tools for HEP, significant work remains to make relevant researchers.