MRI: Acquisition of an Advanced Computer Cluster for Computational Relativity and Gravitation

该奖项支持收购高性能计算机集群，以支持最近在罗切斯特理工学院（RIT）成立的计算相对论和引力中心（CCRG）的前沿研究。 CCRG的研究计划将主要集中在引力物理和天体物理学：涉及紧凑物体的引力波源的建模和模拟，如黑洞双星，引力波信号的理论预测，星星集群和包含超大质量黑洞的活动星系核的演化，以及星系合并。 计算机集群将成为CCRG引力波研究的主要计算平台，因此将在中心研究计划的成功开发和完成中发挥关键作用。 由计算机集群启动的研究将有助于激光干涉引力波天文台（LIGO）的成功，因为它将主要用于数值相对论研究（例如引力波源的数值建模和模拟），以产生用于分析LIGO数据的引力波形模板。 这项研究将建立在RIT小组先前在二元黑洞模拟方面的突破基础上，从而导致Emoving穿刺技术，该技术现在已成为在超级计算机上进化黑洞双星（以及最近的中子星）的最流行方法。 为了继续发展这一技术，并增加其天体物理应用的数量，需要一个新的专用集群与新的高速相互通信技术。 虽然这个计算机集群将主要用于数值相对论研究，但RIT的其他研究人员和学生也将从中受益，并从集群将在CCRG创造的研究机会中受益。

This award supports the acquisition of a high-performance computer cluster to enable cutting-edge research at the Center for Computational Relativity and Gravitation (CCRG), recently formed at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Research programs at the CCRG will focus primarily on gravitational physics and astrophysics: modeling and simulation of gravitational wave sources involving compact objects, such as black-hole binaries, theoretical predictions of gravitational wave signals, evolution of star clusters and active galactic nuclei containing supermassive black holes, and galaxy mergers. The computer cluster will be the main computational platform for the gravitational wave research at the CCRG, and will therefore play a critical role in the successful development and completion of the Center's research programs. The research enabled by the computer cluster will contribute to the success of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO), since it will be used primarily for the numerical relativityresearch (e.g. numerical modeling and simulation of gravitational wave sources) needed to produce the gravitational waveform templates to be used in the analysis of LIGO's data. This research will build upon the RIT group's previous breakthrough in binary black hole simulation leading to the technique of Emoving punctures' that now has become the most popular method to evolve black-hole binaries (and recently neutron stars) on supercomputers. In order to continue the development of this technique, and to increase the number of its astrophysical applications, a new dedicated cluster with new high-speed intercommunication technology is required. While this computer cluster will be used predominantly for numerical relativity research, other researchers and students at RIT will also benefit from it and from the research opportunities that the cluster will create at the CCRG.