MRI: Acquisition of an Advanced, Accelerated Computational System for Lattice QCD

量子色动力学（QCD）是强相互作用的理论，强相互作用是自然界中将夸克和胶子结合成亚原子粒子（强子）（如质子和中子）的基本力。QCD性质的研究是核物理学的核心科学挑战之一。核物理学家使用计算方法和大规模模拟来进一步详细了解强子结构。这些模拟利用了最先进的计算资源，研究人员继续改进他们的高性能计算（HPC）方法，以利用计算机技术的最新突破。该项目将允许收购一个并行计算机集群，该集群包含下一代英特尔多核处理器（Knights Landing）和高性能通信网络。Knights Landing架构具有革新科学计算的潜力，它以低成本提供大量计算资源，并且比传统计算机集群使用更少的功率。这个计算机集群将被安置在威廉玛丽学院新的综合科学中心的一个最先进的计算中心，并将成为威廉玛丽学院高性能计算的核心。该系统的主要科学驱动力是利用晶格QCD方法在基本粒子物理标准模型的基础上为核物理学奠定坚实的基础。随着计算能力的提高和最近算法的发展，用该系统进行的研究将推进Lattice QCD计划。该系统将被用作一个试验台，用于开发晶格QCD计算的新算法。这些算法将与计算机科学家合作设计，专门针对现代多核架构，这是目前高性能计算的趋势。此外，这个计算机集群将作为计算机科学家和物理学家之间跨学科研究的中心，并将通过培训学生和博士后研究人员在高级研究小组和更广泛的学术团体中促进研究和教育的整合。该项目推进了国家战略计算计划（NSCI）的目标，旨在维持和加强美国在高性能计算（HPC）研究、开发和部署方面的科学、技术和经济领导地位。

Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) is the theory of strong interactions, the fundamental force in Nature that binds quarks and gluons into subatomic particles (hadrons), such as protons and neutrons. The study of QCD properties is one of the central scientific challenges in nuclear physics. Nuclear physics scientists use computational methods and large-scale simulations to further the detailed understanding of hadronic structure. These simulations make use of state-of-the-art computational resources and researchers continue to improve their high-performance computing (HPC) methods to take advantage of the latest breakthrough in computer technology. This project will allow the acquisition of a parallel computer cluster incorporating the next-generation Intel multi-core processors (Knights Landing) and a high-performance communication network. The Knights Landing architecture has the potential to revolutionize scientific computing, by providing large computing resources at low cost and using significantly less power than conventional computer clusters. This computer cluster will be housed in a state-of-the-art computing center in the new Integrated Science Center at the College of William & Mary and will form the centerpiece of high-performance computing on the W&M campus.The primary scientific driver for the system is to use lattice QCD methods to build a solid foundation for nuclear physics based on the Standard Model of elementary particle physics. With increased computational power and recent algorithmic developments, the research carried out with this system will advance the Lattice QCD program. This system will be used as a test bed for the development of new algorithms for lattice QCD calculations. These algorithms will be designed in collaboration with computer scientists specifically for the modern multi-core architectures that are currently the trent in high-performance computing. Furthermore, this computer cluster will serve as the center of interdisciplinary research between computer scientists and physicists and will catalyze the integration of research and education through the training of students and postdoctoral researchers in the groups of the senior investigators and in the wider academic community at William and Mary.This project advances the objectives of the National Strategic Computing Initiative (NSCI), an effort aimed at sustaining and enhancing the U.S. scientific, technological, and economic leadership position in High-Performance Computing (HPC) research, development, and deployment.