A Blue Gene/L supercomputer prototype created this simulation of lipids, which provide the environment for cell membrane proteins and enable critical functions like cell signalling and cell division. Studying lipids is crucial to understanding diseases related to these proteins, including muscular dystrophy and Alzheimer’s disease. One third of all proteins in the human body — and half of all drug targets — are membrane proteins. Image courtesy of IBM.

Argonne to play major
role in computer facility

Argonne will play a major role in the development of a new national computational science facility aimed at deploying a supercomputer capable of sustained performance of 100 trillion floating-point operations per second (teraflops) by 2007.

Argonne partnered with Oak Ridge National Laboratory to develop a proposal for the National Leadership Computing Facility (NLCF), which will engage teams of researchers from national laboratories, research institutions, computing centers, universities and vendors. The NLCF will be used by the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) for mission-related research, and will be open to researchers from around the world for competitive, peer-reviewed research.

The Oak Ridge-Argonne proposal was selected from four proposals received from DOE's science laboratories. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham announced May 12 that the department would provide $25 million to fund the project's first year. The total cost is estimated to be $150 million to $200 million.

"This world-class computational facility will ensure America's leadership in high-performance computing and scientific discovery," said Abraham. "It will serve to revitalize the U.S. effort in high-end computing."

Oak Ridge National Laboratory will be responsible for working with vendors and users to determine the best system architecture for the expected set of computation problems. It will work closely with Cray and IBM as well as Argonne, other DOE national laboratories, and universities to make the new DOE computing capability a success.

Argonne will help develop software for two computers to be deployed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Red Storm, a massively parallel machine, and a Cray X-1 vector architecture parallel computer. The Cray will be upgraded to a more powerful version, the X-2, which is expected to achieve the 100-teraflop mark.

In addition, Argonne will deploy and evaluate, in partnership with IBM, a five-teraflop BlueGene/L supercomputer at the laboratory's Illinois site. Researchers at Argonne's Mathematics and Computer Science Division will evaluate the system and the software needed to support scientific applications.

IBM's BlueGene system was selected to expand the range of computing architectures available to scientists and to explore promising technologies for next-generation leadership-class machines. Argonne leads a consortium of research institutions working on open-source software for this architecture.

"Research applications suitable for BlueGene supercomputers range from simulations of brain seizures to the processes in exploding stars," said Argonne Director Hermann Grunder. "High-end computation, theory and experimentation are the three pillars supporting today's science and technology research. The laboratory is proud to be an integral part of this next major step in the evolution of scientific computation."

"The BlueGene computer system, with its Power-based architecture, offers a great computational platform from which to search for new scientific breakthroughs," said Pat Toole, general manager of IBM Engineering and Technology Services.

BlueGene system architecture is designed to be highly "scalable" -- additional central processing units, or CPUs, can be added to the system with minimal changes to the operating system, applications and software environment. Argonne researchers will use both standard performance benchmarks and actual application codes to help predict how the system will perform as additional computing power is added to the system. Future versions of the BlueGene/L system may have more than 120,000 CPUs.

"This project will set the direction of Argonne's high-performance computing research through the end of the decade," said Rick Stevens, director of Argonne's Mathematics and Computer Science Division. "The BlueGene/L will allow us to explore a wide range of applications and promising technologies for the next generation of leadership-class machines."

"This is exactly the kind of commitment we've needed since the Japanese unveiled the world's fastest supercomputer two years ago," said Congresswoman Judy Biggert, chairman of the Energy Subcommittee on the House Science Committee. "It will take supercomputing R&D to a new level and help us regain world leadership. I am delighted that the men and women of Argonne National Laboratory and IBM will partner to perfect a supercomputing system for scientific research in biology, plasma physics, nuclear physics, genomics and other fields."

"I want to congratulate Dr. Hermann Grunder and all of the hardworking, dedicated scientists, engineers and researchers at the laboratory for their role in this critical project," said Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. "Illinois has a long history of innovation, and this is just one more example of the talent that makes this innovation possible."

The state has contributed to such laboratory initiatives as the I-Wire high-speed computer network, the Advanced Photon Source and the Center for Nanoscale Materials.

Solar power, fuel cells
power students' imaginations

Teams of young engineers put their skills to the test in the 14th annual model car competition May 8. The competition was sponsored by Argonne, the U.S. Department of Energy, CNH and the Society of Automotive Engineers, and held at the CNH Technical Center in Burr Ridge.

Students competed in two vehicle classes -- hydrogen fuel cell cars and solar cars. The model car competition is part of the 2004 Chicago Middle School Science Bowl which also includes an academic competition held in March. The Science Bowl encourages student involvement in math, science and engineering activities. For the second year in a row, Roosevelt Middle School will represent the Chicago region at the National Middle School Science Bowl in Golden, Colo., from June 17-20. This team was determined the winner from a three-way tie based on their "average points per game" from the academic competition.

Each team designed and built a working fuel-cell or solar-powered model car, no larger than 12 by 24 inches.

Vehicles competed in a double elimination race on a straight, asphalt track within their own class. Prizes were awarded for the top performing cars, and design awards were given based on technology, craftsmanship, appearance of the car and a working knowledge of the car's design.

In the fuel cell race, first place went to Jefferson Junior High, Woodridge. A team from Madison Junior High, Naperville, won second place, and third place went to Roosevelt Middle School, River Forest.

In the solar car race, first place went to Madison Junior High, Naperville. Second place went to Jerling Junior High, Orland Park and third place to St. John's Lutheran School, LaGrange.

In the design judging, first place went to Roosevelt Middle School, River Forest. Second place was taken by Jefferson Junior High, Woodridge, and third place went to Eisenhower Junior High, Darien.

Researchers to discuss LDRD work

A mini-symposium on the results of Laboratory- Directed Research and Development (LDRD) projects will be held from 2-3:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 25, in Argonne-East's Building 201, Conference Rooms 190A and B. Topics covered will include:

"Testing of a Model 345 MHz Fast Tuner for the RIA Driver Linac" by Michael Kelly (PHY)

"Demonstrate the Two-Charge State Injector Concept for the RIA Driver Linac" by Peter Ostroumov (PHY)

"Thin-Film Liquid Lithium Stripper for the RIA Driver Linac" by Claude Reed (NE)

"Concept Development for RIA Lithium Thin-Film Stripper Formation and Primary Cooling of the High-Power-Density Neutron Converter" by David Pointer (NE)

"Environmental and Performance Benefits for a Geologic Repository from the Removal of Actinides from Spent Nuclear Fuel and Recycling in a Fast Neutron System" by Roald Wigeland (NE)

ANL-East to host workshop on physics theory

"Supersymmetry, Extra Dimensions and Higgs Bosons," a High Energy Physics Theory Institute, will be held at Argonne-East May 24-28.

The workshop will bring together interested experts to discuss outstanding theoretical questions in supersymmetry, extra-space dimensions and Higgs boson physics. They will examine phenomenological consequences for experiments at the Fermilab Tevatron, the CERN Large Hadron Collider and a future electron-positron linear collider.

The program is available online. For more information, contact Ed Berger (HEP) at ext. 2-6211 or berger@anl.gov.

Colloquium will provide insider's
view of Cold War

Thomas C. Reed, former Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, will present "At the Abyss: An Insider's History of the Cold War," at a Director's Special Colloquium at Argonne-East May 26.

The talk will begin at 2 p.m. in the Building 362 Auditorium. All employees whose schedules permit are invited to attend.

Reed's experiences in Washington D.C. throughout the Cold War are recorded in his book, "At the Abyss" (Presidio Press/Ballantine Books). Reed's book covers America's fight against communism from the death of Josef Stalin in 1953 to the closing of Strategic Air Command in October 2002.

In addition to Air Force secretary, Reed was director of the National Reconnaissance Office and special assistant to President Reagan for National Security Policy. He has been a consultant to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where much of the nation's nuclear weapons research takes place.

Book signing

Reed will sign copies of "At the Abyss" following the colloquium. To reserve a copy, call Pat Canaday (C&PA) at ext. 2-5562. For pre-paid orders, call the Barnes & Noble bookstore, 1550 W. 75th Street, Downers Grove, at (630) 663-0181. Ask for the manager and mention Argonne. The book costs $27.83.

Zeiss 'scopes to be shown in mobile lab

A visit to Argonne-East by the "Mat Mobile," an 18-wheel microscopy laboratory from Carl Zeiss, Inc., has been rescheduled to Monday, May 24.

The Mat Mobile will exhibit materials microscopes in the Building 212 parking lot, just south of the Building 213 Cafeteria, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Zeiss is touring the United States to showcase and demonstrate its newest optics and contrasting techniques for research and materials analysis. Equipment on display will include stereo and laser scanning confocal microscopes.

Holiday to change deadlines

Due to the Memorial Day holiday, all news, seminars and classified ads for the June 7 edition of Argonne News must be received by noon Friday, May 28.

CIS Classes

Classes offered by Computing and Instrumentation Solutions are held in Argonne-East's Building 201, Room 167. Unless otherwise specified, classes are limited to eight participants and cost $215. Complete computer class descriptions, schedules and enrollment forms are available online. For information about enrollment, contact Diane Cavazos (CIS) at ext. 2-7153 or dkcavazos@anl.gov.

June classes:

"Advanced Word 2000" (CIS108) -- Tuesday, June 1, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

"Advanced Excel 2000" (CIS109) -- Wednesday, June 2, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

"Advanced Access 2000" (CIS110) -- Thursday, June 3, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

"Introduction to PowerPoint 2000" (CIS106) -- Friday, June 4, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

"Advanced PowerPoint 2000" (CIS107) -- Monday, June 7, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Unix Classes:

"Beginning Unix" (CIS564) -- Tuesday, June 8, 9 a.m. _ noon and Thursday, June 10, 9 a.m. - noon. No cost.

"vi Editor in Unix" (CIS567) -- Friday, June 11, 9 a.m. - noon. No cost.

Lunchtime barbecues are back

Lunchtime barbecues will return to the Argonne Guest House Restaurant Wednesday, June 2.

The weekly barbecues will be held Wednesdays rain or shine from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Entrées range from $6 to $10, and different items will be featured each week. Traditional barbecue items, including burgers and ribs, will be available. The June 2 menu will include barbecued salmon, chicken and catfish.

A complete soup and salad bar can be purchased as an entrée or with a barbecue entrée for an extra charge.

Guest House to close for
Memorial Day holiday

The Argonne Guest House Restaurant will be closed Saturday, May 29, through Monday, May 31, for the Memorial Day weekend.

The 401 Grill will remain open and keep its regular scheduled hours: Monday through Friday from 5-9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Radio, pager repair shop has moved

The Radio and Pager repair shop has moved to Argonne-East's Building 223, Room A038.

To find the shop, enter the double doors just left (north) of the main entrance, and follow the signs. The phone number remains ext. 2-7011, or 2-7603.

Cougars tickets are
available for May 28 game

The Argonne Club is organizing a Kane County Cougars outing Friday, May 28.

The class A team has honed the skills of major-league players like the Cubs' Joe Borowski and the Marlins' Josh Beckett. The Cougars are leading the Midwest League's Western Division.

First pitch is at 6:30 p.m. at Elfstrom Field in Geneva. The game will be followed by fireworks. Tickets cost $8 and are available by contacting Loretta Phillips (CIS) at ext. 2-6934 or lmphillips@anl.gov.

For more information, including driving directions, see the Cougars Web site.

Cigna offers two smoking cessation programs

Cigna is offering employees two smoking cessation programs. The programs are telephone and Web-based so employees can receive support and personalized cessation plans to meet their needs.

QuitNet is an online smoking cessation program. Employees receive an online membership, 24-hour access to social support and professional counseling. The cost is $65.

Tobacco Solutions is a nicotine-replacement patch program. The eight-week nicotine replacement therapy program uses the Novartis Habitrol nicotine transdermal patch system. Employees receive a booklet and compact disc with activities to help guide them through the program. The cost is $135.

For more information or to order, contact Cigna at (866) 889-4138 ext. 103 or visit the company Web site.

To register online, click on "Are you in need of personal help?" then enter Argonne as the Employer ID and "employee" as the PIN word.

Retirement vendors to visit ANL-E

The laboratory's retirement vendors will send representatives to Argonne-East during May.

To schedule an appointment, call the number listed.

Fidelity --Tuesday, May 25. Call the appointment desk at (800) 642-7131.

TIAA-CREF -- Tuesday, May 25, and Wednesday, May 26. Call the appointment desk at (800) 842-2005 or see www.tiaa-cref/moc.

Ethics hotline is free, available
24 hours a day

Argonne employees can report concerns about ethics and compliance using a dedicated toll-free hotline at 1-877-587-2449.

The Ethics and Compliance Line is available 24 hours a day, and calls may be made

anonymously.