| MCS Research |
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From basic research in such "core" areas as optimization and linear algebra to exploration of new technologies such as teleimmersion, MCS researchers have a common goal: improving the effectiveness of scientists in solving challenging problems.
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| SciDAC | Argonne is a major participant in the new Scientific Discovery through Advanced Computing initiative. |
| Numerical Methods, Software, and Parallel Tools | New scalable, parallel numerical methods are essential to meet the needs of computational scientists. In the new Laboratory for Advanced Numerical Software (LANS), our focus is on large-scale optimization; numerical libraries for the solution of PDEs; mesh generation methods; and techniques that enable the integration of software, flexibility in choice of algorithms, ease of incorporation of new computational constructs, and automatic compilation. We also develop the tools to make parallel computers, and especially massively parallel processing systems, truly usable. Complementing these efforts is research in applied mathematics: analysis of mathematical equations, the application of analytical and numerical techniques to problems in the natural and engineering sciences, the design and analysis of numerical algorithms, the development of special techniques to measure algorithm reliability and efficiency, and the preparation of software based on broadly applicable computational methods.
We offer the Wilkinson Fellowship for postdoctoral researchers, the Givens Research Associates for graduate students, and sponsor the Wilkinson Prize for Numerical Software. |
| Automated Reasoning | Argonne is a world leader in the development of automated reasoning programs, such as Otter, which assist with the deductive aspects of problem solving: helping researchers find shorter proofs, test conjectures, and answer open questions. |
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| Distributed Systems Research | At the intersection of high-performance computing and networking, distributed systems research includes study of programming libraries and languages, application-level management of advanced networking technologies security technologies, and resource scheduling. Networked "virtual supercomputers," composed dynamically from diverse components, promise to become increasing important in scientific problem solving, and the Distributed Systems Laboratory (DSL) is working to define how these next-generation systems are designed and used. The goal is to ensure that geographically distributed high-performance computers, workstations, and visualization devices can be linked together effectively for computational science and engineering. |
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| Collaborative and Virtual Environments | Researchers in the Futures Lab explore new collaborative environment technologies that combine advanced networking, virtual space technology, and high-end immersive visualization environments. Our aim: to enable the development of wide-area collaborative computational science. Our focus: the development and evaluation of high-end technologies and systems that extend and complement commercially available tools. Our motivation: the belief that teleimmersion provides the ideal framework for exploring new ideas in collaborative VR environments, advanced scientific visualization, interfaces to high-performance computing systems, networking concepts, and related human performance issues. Our projects include the Access Grid and Active Mural. |
| Regional Climate Center | Researchers in the Regional Climate Center are developing state-of-the art software tools for assessing the local-scale effects of climate change and climate variability, with a focus on the Midwest. The aim is to provide to the climate research and assessment community the tools, products, and information they require to make sound decisions. |
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| High-Performance Computer Systems | What resources are available to enable applications to fully exploit advanced computer architectures? At Argonne, we have an advanced computing research facility to provide access to state-of-the-art parallel computers, mass storage, and advanced networks. The facility -- which currently includes a new 512-CPU Linux cluster called Chiba City -- reflects Argonne's continuing involvement in parallel computing since the early 1980s . |
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| Computational Science Applications | Computational science has emerged as a third way of doing science, complementing the traditional experimental and theoretical approaches. Computational scientists exploit high-performance computers to perform numerical simulations of complex physical and biological phenomena. Essential to these simulations is advanced networking, software, and middleware for next-generation computers. |
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| Research Partnerships | At MCS, we are working to build strong relationships with universities, industry, and other research institutions. We are involved in numerous collaborative centers and multiyear multi-institutional projects. |
