ACQUISITION OF A VERSATILE HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING FACILITY FOR GRAVITATIONAL WAVE SOURCE

该合同支持高性能计算设备的采购，这将使引力波（GW）源理论的研究成为可能。这项工作将涉及本科生和研究生的研究和技术培训。该设备由一个大型计算机集群（56个节点，每个节点有两个双核cpu）组成，具有千兆网络，设计用于GW源模拟的高计算效率-成本比。此外，其中16个节点将配备专门的硬件（葡萄板），用于直接模拟恒星动力学中的n体。一个主要的存储组件也是拟议系统的一部分。模拟结果的可视化将用于研究分析和培训，以及在附近的阿德勒天文馆进行公众宣传。对于这一开发工作，将通过获得一个由7个节点组成的小型集群操作的瓷砖墙壁显示器（近2500万像素）来实现，该集群具有高级图形功能。所有获得的仪器将用于广泛的计算天体物理学项目，包括双星演化和致密天体形成、恒星动力学和流体动力学。这些结果将极大地提高对当前激光干涉仪探测器中最重要的GW源的理解，并且它们也将允许对未来GW观测进行更好的物理解释。具体项目的例子包括：(i)模拟由吉瓦辐射驱动的二元致密天体的种群；主要目标是将经验约束应用于理论模型，并推导出可靠的预测，用于二元激励检测率和源特性的测量。（ii）致密星团中黑洞的动力学模拟；这些系统中频繁的动态相互作用可以导致大量合并黑洞双星的形成，并且可能是地面干涉仪（如LIGO）可探测到黑洞合并的主要来源。（iii）包含一个黑洞和一个中子星的致密双星的最终合并的流体动力学计算；这些将使用复杂的3-D相对论流体力学代码进行，与之前基于牛顿引力的更近似的处理相比，这将是一个重大的改进。GW源的研究在天体物理学的许多其他领域也很重要。例如，合并紧密的双星也可能是伽马射线暴的来源，它们可能对星系中许多重元素的产生起着关键作用。这一工具所促成的研究活动将涉及培训几名本科生和研究生，包括来自代表性不足的少数民族的学生。一名研究高性能计算的研究生和一个由大约10名本科生组成的团队也将在仪器获取、设置和调试的所有阶段接受培训。

This award supports the acquisition of high-performance computing equipment that will enable research on the theory of gravitational-wave (GW) sources. The work will involve both research and technology training of undergraduate and graduate students. The equipment consists of a large computer cluster (56 nodes, each with two dual-core CPUs) with gigabit networking, designed for high computational efficiency-to-cost ratio for GW source simulations. In addition, 16 of the nodes will be equipped with specialized hardware (GRAPE boards) for direct N-body simulations in stellar dynamics. A major storage component is also part of the proposed system. Visualizations from the simulation results will be developed for use in both research analysis and training as well as for public outreach presentations at the nearby Adler Planetarium. For this development effort will be enabled by the acquisition of a Tiled Wall Display (almost 25 million pixels) operated by a small cluster of 7 nodes with high-level graphics capabilities. All the acquired instrumentation will be used in a wide range of computational astrophysics projects on binary star evolution and compact object formation, stellar dynamics, and hydrodynamics. The results will greatly improve the understanding of the most important GW sources for current laser interferometer detectors, and they will also allow for better physical interpretation of future GW observations. Examples of specific projects include: (i) modeling populations of binary compact objects driven to inspiral by GW emission; the primary goal is the application of empirical constraints to theoretical models and the derivation of reliable predictions for binary inspiral detection rates and for measurements of source properties. (ii) dynamical simulations of black holes in dense star clusters; frequent dynamical interactions in these systems can lead to the formation of large numbers of merging black hole binaries and may be the dominant source of detectable black hole mergers for ground-based interferometers such as LIGO. (iii) hydrodynamic calculations of the final mergers of compact binaries containing a black hole and a neutron star; these will be performed using a sophisticated 3-D relativistic hydrodynamics code and will represent a significant improvement over previous, more approximate treatments based on Newtonian gravity. The study of GW sources is also important in many other areas of astrophysics. For example, coalescing compact binaries may also be sources of gamma-ray bursts, and they may play a key role for the production of many heavy elements in galaxies. The research activities enabled by this instrumentation will involve the training of several undergraduate and graduate students, including students from under-represented minorities. A graduate student studying high performance computing and a team of up to about ten undergraduates will also be trained in all phases of the instrument acquisition, set-up, and commissioning.