Computational Physics at
BGSU Physics and Astronomy
People in Computational
Physics at BGSU
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Dr. Comer Duncan
(duncan@bgnet.bgsu.edu) |
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Dr. Haowen Xi (haowen@bgnet.bgsu.edu) |
What is Computational
Physics?
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Use high performance computers to
express the laws of nature as various kinds of equations |
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Using a high level language such as
fortran 90 or C or C++ write computer programs to simulate some physical
system of interest |
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The simulations make predictions about
how physical systems behave |
Computers at BGSU Physics
and Astronomy
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Ten SGI and Sun workstations |
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SGI Power Challenge with 4 processors |
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Compac/DEC alpha |
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At Ohio Supercomputer Center: 32
processor Origin2000, 128 Processor Cray T3E, plus others |
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How does Computational
Physics Help?
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Allows us to understand complicated
systems since can simulate solutions of laws even if we can not solve the
laws exactly |
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Helps
in understanding how nature works in regions that are not accessible |
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Helps supplement experiments and
suggest experiments |
An example: Simulations
of Flow of Jets from Galaxies
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Some galaxies emit large scale jets of
ionized gases—maybe from black hole in the galaxy center |
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Observations strongly suggest that the
jet material is moving very fast |
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We have simulated the flow of jet
material with speeds very close to light speed—so Einstein’s theory of
relativity is used in the work |
Purpose of work:
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Understand the conditions near the
center of galaxies which result in these interesting fast moving jets |
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Help observational astronomers better
direct their observations so we figure out what is really going on in the
centers of galaxies |
Movies of Jets
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Two cases are shown in movies |
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Flow of a jet which is moving at 92% of
light speed and |
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Flow of a jet which is moving at 99.4%
of light speed |
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Conclusion: The jets with speeds very close to light speed are more
stable—hold themselves together much longer |
How can we help?
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Interested in simulations using
computers [PC:need language compiler]? |
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Contact Dr. Duncan or Dr. Xi for advice on doing simulations –they are
great fun and you can learn a lot !!! |