Sandia National Laboratories Welcomes Revolutionary Supercomputer Spectra To Enhance Nuclear …

This month, Sandia National Laboratories welcomed a cutting-edge supercomputer, Spectra, designed to revolutionize simulations and ensure the reliability and safety of the U. S. nuclear stockpile. Built with specialized chips from Israel-based NextSilicon, Spectra boasts a novel architecture that enables real-time task prioritization.

James Laros, Sandia senior scientist and project lead, noted that this new approach presents a significant challenge, as it requires integrating complex systems with an untested architecture. Spectra is the first supercomputer to utilize NextSilicon’s innovative chip design. Researchers will evaluate its performance on national security-related tasks, such as advanced fluid dynamics simulations, which assess the safety and reliability of nuclear deterrents without resorting to underground testing.

Laros confirmed that Spectra was installed and operational as of November 1, joining a dozen other Sandia supercomputers. The system is part of the lab’s Vanguard program, an initiative exploring emerging technologies for advanced simulation and computing applications, overseen by the National Nuclear Security Administration. The program involves collaboration with the nation’s three nuclear weapons labs: Sandia, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), and Lawrence —rmore National Laboratory in California. Spectra’s capabilities will contribute to a broader effort to maintain the nation’s nuclear arsenal.