The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has unveiled its $600 million supercomputer, “El Capitan”, after eight years of research and development. Currently, it holds the record for being the world’s fastest and most powerful supercomputer.
According to Pythagoras Watson, team lead of the advanced technology system, El Capitan consists of 87 racks, each containing 128 nodes, making a total of 11,136 individual computers. This allows for simulations in various fields, including climate modeling, gene folding, and nuclear weapon simulation.
The supercomputer’s peak performance is 2.79 quintillion calculations per second, which is equivalent to simulating the universe more than 70 billion years before its birth. El Capitan’s processing power is comparable to about one million of today’s fastest smartphones working simultaneously.
Developed as a replacement for underground nuclear testing, the system will help scientists understand how aging components are still effective and whether replacements need to be made. The Department of Energy’s Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan relies on collaborations between LLNL, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratory.
The El Capitan spans around 6,000 square feet and is about 18 times faster than the laboratory’s previous computer system, Sierra. Mayor John Marchand expressed pride in the work done by Livermore scientists, emphasizing national security measures.
Pythagoras Watson, a team member who has worked at LLNL for 24 years, is excited to collaborate with this new technology, stating that it will enable groundbreaking research and contribute positively to the country and world.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/worlds-fastest-supercomputer-el-capitan-unveiled-in-livermore