A publication of the Office of Advanced Simulation & Computing, NNSA Defense Programs
NA-ASC-500-07—Issue 3
May 2007
Return to this issue’s stories
Report of the Predictive Science Panel Issued: Many Examples of Outstanding and World-Class Science
The 2006–2007 Report of the Predictive Science Panel (PSP) noted “many examples of outstanding and world-class science, ranging from awarding-winning materials science simulations and ASC-informed re-analyses of UGT [underground test] data to very high strain-rate materials strength experiments.” The PSP meets annually at both Lawrence Livermore (LLNL) and Los Alamos national laboratories to evaluate progress toward the goal of a credible predictive capability, answering the question: How do you know it’s right?
LLNL Associate Director for Defense and Nuclear Technologies Bruce Goodwin stated that at the PSP debriefing, the Physics and Engineering Models Program’s multi-scale dislocation dynamics work was favorably compared to the groundbreaking work on materials done by Rudolf Peierls in the 1930s. “I’m proud to have our work compared to the seminal work of such a renowned scientist,” said Goodwin.
The report also noted, “Progress toward true predictive capability is accelerating, but continuing at the same rate will soon put a strain on both capacity and capability computing assets. At the same time, validating experiments must be adequately supported. Although the science path forward remains clear, this is a critical transitional moment for the ASC Program and for the laboratories’ ASC-related efforts. The transition involves expansion of the ASC Program roles to include RRW [the Reliable Replacement Warhead], Complex 2030, and better coordination with supporting experimental science, as well as new petaflop-scale computer acquisitions.”
DOE Privacy Disclaimer | Sandia Privacy Disclaimer | SAND 2007-3351W
Developed and maintained by Sandia National Laboratories for NA.114