Using computational physics to study relativity and more

Presenter

Dr. Roland Haas
National Centre for Supercomputing Applications
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Abstract

Computers are indispensable tools for science and are used at all levels of the scientific process. From collecting raw data, processing results, and falsifying theoretical predictions against experimental results, to facilitating symbolic manipulation of mathematical expressions when forming hypotheses and aiding in developing a theoretical understanding of the implications of fundamental physical theories. In these cases computers speed up the scientific discovery process and have increase the pace of scientific progress, while being fundamentally a tool to assist in an existing process. Computational physics goes beyond that in making computers the primary tool to explore physics. Advanced computers allow scientists to investigate physics beyond the relatively limited, highly symmetric or approximate treatment accessible by pen-and-paper calculations and handle experimental data of magnitudes and cadence impossible to handle manually.

In this talk I will present my experience as a computational astro-physicist and show exciting developments and challenges faced by today's computational scientists. I will mostly focus on"traditional" high-performance computing but also attempt to shed some light on new developments in the field. Finally I will try and point out career options beyond the academic faculty path that are open to computational scientists.

Coffee available beforehand at 3:40pm in MacN 214