About the Flash Center for Computational Science


The Flash Center for Computational Science research ranges from Supernovae and Co-Design for Exascale to High-Energy Density Physics and Laboratory Astrophysics. Currently, the Flash Center is a leader in the study of astrophysical processes mediated by magnetic fields. We carry out simulation campaigns on the largest supercomputers in the world and conduct our breakthrough laser experiments at the world's largest and most powerful laser facilities, such as the University of Rochester's Omega laser facility at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics and the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The common thread running through our current and past projects is the FLASH CODE, a publicly available multiphysics multiscale simulation code with a wide international user base. Based at The University of Rochester, the Flash Center's research is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the U.S. DOE Office of Science Fusion Energy Sciences (FES), the U.S. DOE ARPA-E, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and through subcontracts with Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).

ASTROPHYSICAL PROCESSES
We study astrophysical processes mediated by magnetic fields. How are cosmic magnetic fields generated? How are high-energy cosmic rays accelerated in the interstellar medium?

THE FLASH CODE
We develop the FLASH CODE, an open radiation MHD simulation code for plasma physics and astrophysics. We design novel numerical methods and algorithms to solve complex non-linear systems.

HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING
We carry out simulation campaigns on the largest supercomputers in the world and are on the cutting edge of high performance computing, leveraging emerging technologies that revolutionize research.

LABORATORY ASTROPHYSICS
We conduct our breakthrough experiments at the largest laser facilities in the world, such as the Omega Laser Facility at LLE, the the National Ignition Facility at LLNL, and the Megajoule Laser in France.

Other recent and past projects include: The Flash Center's HEDP Initiative, funded by the U.S. DOE NNSA; Petascale Computing of Thermonuclear Supernova Explosions, funded by NSF; Petascale Algorithms for Multi-body Fluid-structure Interactions in Viscous Incompressible Flow, funded by the PetaApps Program in the Office of Cyberinfrastructure; and Developing an Implicit Solver on a Parallel Block-Structured Adaptive Mesh Grid for FLASH, funded by the Physics at the Information Frontier Program in the Division of Physics.
Information
      For more information contact:
      Jenni Oliver, Business Administrator

      Flash Center for Computational Science
      Department of Physics and Astronomy
      The University of Rochester
      206 Bausch and Lomb Hall
      P.O. Box 270171
      Rochester, NY 14627-0171
      E-mail: jenni.oliver@pas.rochester.edu
      Phone: 585.275.4344


Flash Center for Computational Science in a Nutshell