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

量子色动力学(QCD)是强相互作用理论，是自然界中将夸克和胶子结合成亚原子粒子(强子)的基本力量，如质子和中子。QCD性质的研究是核物理学的核心科学挑战之一。核物理学科学家使用计算方法和大规模模拟来加深对强子结构的详细了解。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。该项目将允许购买一个并行计算机集群，其中包括下一代英特尔多核处理器(Knights Landing)和一个高性能通信网络。骑士登陆体系结构通过以低成本提供大量计算资源，并使用比传统计算机集群低得多的功率，有可能给科学计算带来革命性的变化。这个计算机集群将被安置在威廉和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W&M校园高性能计算的核心。该系统的主要科学驱动力是使用格子QCD方法，以基本粒子物理标准模型为基础建立坚实的核物理基础。随着计算能力的增强和算法的最新发展，利用该系统进行的研究将推进格子QCD计划。该系统将被用作开发新的格子QCD计算算法的试验台。这些算法将与计算机科学家合作，专门为现代多核架构设计，这些架构目前是高性能计算的趋势。此外，该计算机集群将作为计算机科学家和物理学家之间的跨学科研究中心，并将通过在高级研究人员小组以及威廉和玛丽大学更广泛的学术社区中培训学生和博士后研究人员，促进研究和教育的整合。该项目推进了国家战略计算倡议(NSCI)的目标，该倡议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.