An IBM supercomputer theoretically capable of achieving 3.8 trillion calculations/s will be used in scientific research that may lead to breakthroughs in fuel-efficient automobiles. According to the independent TOP500 List, it is the world's most powerful unclassified supercomputer.
The National Energy Research Scientific Computer Center (NERSC) will use this supercomputer in a wide range of research projects, including the simulation of internal engine combustion. NERSC is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science, located at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, Calif.
NERSC researchers believe the supercomputer will help lead to automobile engines that consume less gasoline and emit fewer pollutants. They expect such engines to annually save the U.S. over $30 billion in energy-related costs.
The IBM machine at NERSC is the second most powerful supercomputer in the world. A classified supercomputer, IBM's ASCI White system, is the top machine. This machine is engaged in research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, Calif. The TOP500 List was compiled and published by researchers at the University of Tennessee and the University of Mannheim in Germany. For details, visit www.nersc.gov. To view the TOP500 List, go to www.top500.org.