Alf Wachsmann displays the orange wires that connect sixty-four computers (not seen in this photo) to the Myrinet switch, allowing them to intelligently share problem-solving tasks.

Parallel Computing Key to Future Success

by Heather Rock Woods

Sixty-four computers connected to each other by orange wires in the belly of Building 50 made the difference between immediate and postponed glory.

BaBar physicist Brian Petersen and collaborators asked the computers to work together to analyze 1.3 million events from particle collisions. Thanks to parallel computing—where tasks are intelligently shared and therefore done more quickly—Petersen got his answers back in time to present stunning new results at a conference in March. He saved 687 days worth of wall clock time.

Now that computing speed has reached its limit—processing speeds aren't any faster than a few years ago—computer manufacturers are doubling and quadrupling the number of cores, the arithmetic unit inside a processor. "The only way to get a performance increase for your physics program is to make use of parallel computing and multiple cores," said Alf Wachsmann in the Scientific Computing and Computing Services (SCCS) department.
Read more...

Tunneling Hazards

by Maria José Viñas

All SLAC employees are probably aware of the ongoing tunneling for the LCLS, which started two weeks ago behind the Collider Hall. Last week excavation progressed past 50 feet; daylight doesn't reach that far in, so crews have had to install supplemental lighting.

Being underground presents many potential hazards for tunnel workers, so special safety measures have to be applied to mitigate these risks. Safety instructor Mickel Seeley explains that the main security measure to follow inside a tunnel is keeping a close eye on the quality of the air to make sure that it's breathable. Workers use an air monitor to check the concentration of oxygen. According to Seeley, the most common poisonous gases that can be found in an excavation tunnel are the diesel fumes coming from the machines in use. Workers must also keep close control of the ventilation system, which has to be permanently open and running.

It is also important to make sure that the steel braces that form the support system of the tunnel are installed correctly to prevent collapses. Seeley explains that tunnel workers mount a sustaining system every four feet into the tunnel, a process overseen by superintendents. This crucial process is often repeated, as the tunnel advances about eight feet per shift. There is currently only one shift working in the tunnel, but it will increase to two beginning next month.

All tunnel crews currently at work at SLAC have taken an 8-hour safety course imparted by Seeley. "Every person that goes inside the tunnel—no matter if they've been tunneling all their life—goes through my course," Seeley says.

SLAC Welcomes
New Employees

Image courtesy of Diana Rogers.

SLAC welcomed 16 new employees last week at orientation. From left to right, they are: Josephine Hsu, Ingrid Ofte, Rick Jackson, Philippe G. Hering, Erik Nelson, Tyler Adams, Leonard Anzalone, Queenie G. Quiazon, Brian Sherin, Monica Morchi, John Fryer, Kevin Herbst, Nicholas Horton, Aaron Monteleone, Greg Hays, and Manuel Carrasco.

Deadline Approaches for Ultrafast Summer School

The Photon Ultrafast Laser Science and Engineering (PULSE) Center will host the 2007 Ultrafast Summer School. This five day residential program will offer comprehensive lectures and an open forum for discussions about free electron lasers (FEL).

Friday, April 20 will be the last day for early registration. Learn more and register online.

Safety Seconds

by John Cornuelle

Pilots are extremely well-trained, including simulator tests of everything that might go wrong. They have written procedures of how to do it right, and written procedures of what to do if something goes wrong. They know if they make a serious enough mistake, everyone on the plane will die.

So how can they still make simple mistakes? It's familiarity breeds contempt, just like walking around the site or moving material. You do it ten thousand times successfully, you drop your guard, and bang! something goes wrong.

Events (see all | submit)

April 10: (7:00 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m.) Director's Search Focus Group Sessions
April 10: (12:30 p.m.) Experimental Seminar: First Run II Measurement of the W Boson Mass with CDF
April 10: (1:30 p.m.) ExpSingle Molecule Imaging with FEL: Current Project Status
April 11: (11:00 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:00 p.m.) Director's Search Focus Group Sessions

Access (see all)

Announcements
(see all | submit)

Lab Announcements

Geant4 Tutorial is Filling Up Fast - Register Now

Community Bulletin Board

News (see all | submit)

For the First Time the LHC Reaches Temperatures Colder than Outer Space Interactions
The World's Largest Particle Accelerator All Things Considered
Thin Carbon Is In: Graphene Steals Nanotubes' Allure NYTimes

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View online at http://today.slac.stanford.edu/

Alf Wachsmann displays the orange wires that connect sixty-four computers (not seen in this photo) to the Myrinet switch, allowing them to intelligently share problem-solving tasks. Parallel Computing Key to Future Success by Heather Rock Woods Sixty-four computers connected to each other by orange wires in the belly of Building 50 made the difference between immediate and postponed glory. BaBar physicist Brian Petersen and collaborators asked the computers to work together to analyze 1.3 million events from particle collisions. Thanks to parallel computing—where tasks are intelligently shared and therefore done more quickly—Petersen got his answers back in time to present stunning new results at a conference in March. He saved 687 days worth of wall clock time. Now that computing speed has reached its limit—processing speeds aren't any faster than a few years ago—computer manufacturers are doubling and quadrupling the number of cores, the arithmetic unit inside a processor. "The only way to get a performance increase for your physics program is to make use of parallel computing and multiple cores," said Alf Wachsmann in the Scientific Computing and Computing Services (SCCS) department. Read more...

Tunneling Hazards by Maria José Viñas All SLAC employees are probably aware of the ongoing tunneling for the LCLS, which started two weeks ago behind the Collider Hall. Last week excavation progressed past 50 feet; daylight doesn't reach that far in, so crews have had to install supplemental lighting. Being underground presents many potential hazards for tunnel workers, so special safety measures have to be applied to mitigate these risks. Safety instructor Mickel Seeley explains that the main security measure to follow inside a tunnel is keeping a close eye on the quality of the air to make sure that it's breathable. Workers use an air monitor to check the concentration of oxygen. According to Seeley, the most common poisonous gases that can be found in an excavation tunnel are the diesel fumes coming from the machines in use. Workers must also keep close control of the ventilation system, which has to be permanently open and running. It is also important to make sure that the steel braces that form the support system of the tunnel are installed correctly to prevent collapses. Seeley explains that tunnel workers mount a sustaining system every four feet into the tunnel, a process overseen by superintendents. This crucial process is often repeated, as the tunnel advances about eight feet per shift. There is currently only one shift working in the tunnel, but it will increase to two beginning next month. All tunnel crews currently at work at SLAC have taken an 8-hour safety course imparted by Seeley. "Every person that goes inside the tunnel—no matter if they've been tunneling all their life—goes through my course," Seeley says.	SLAC Welcomes New Employees Image courtesy of Diana Rogers. SLAC welcomed 16 new employees last week at orientation. From left to right, they are: Josephine Hsu, Ingrid Ofte, Rick Jackson, Philippe G. Hering, Erik Nelson, Tyler Adams, Leonard Anzalone, Queenie G. Quiazon, Brian Sherin, Monica Morchi, John Fryer, Kevin Herbst, Nicholas Horton, Aaron Monteleone, Greg Hays, and Manuel Carrasco. Deadline Approaches for Ultrafast Summer School The Photon Ultrafast Laser Science and Engineering (PULSE) Center will host the 2007 Ultrafast Summer School. This five day residential program will offer comprehensive lectures and an open forum for discussions about free electron lasers (FEL). Friday, April 20 will be the last day for early registration. Learn more and register online. Safety Seconds by John Cornuelle Pilots are extremely well-trained, including simulator tests of everything that might go wrong. They have written procedures of how to do it right, and written procedures of what to do if something goes wrong. They know if they make a serious enough mistake, everyone on the plane will die. So how can they still make simple mistakes? It's familiarity breeds contempt, just like walking around the site or moving material. You do it ten thousand times successfully, you drop your guard, and bang! something goes wrong.	Events (see all \| submit) April 10: (7:00 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m.) Director's Search Focus Group Sessions April 10: (12:30 p.m.) Experimental Seminar: First Run II Measurement of the W Boson Mass with CDF April 10: (1:30 p.m.) ExpSingle Molecule Imaging with FEL: Current Project Status April 11: (11:00 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:00 p.m.) Director's Search Focus Group Sessions Access (see all) Alpine Gate & PEP Ring Road closed Gates 17 & 30 open 24-7 Research Yard bisected Announcements (see all \| submit) Lab Announcements Geant4 Tutorial is Filling Up Fast - Register Now Community Bulletin Board Stanford Savers Program Help Center Workshops: Hostile Behavior at Work / A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety Behavior Change/Weight Management Program Upcoming Financial Fairs News (see all \| submit) For the First Time the LHC Reaches Temperatures Colder than Outer Space Interactions The World's Largest Particle Accelerator All Things Considered Thin Carbon Is In: Graphene Steals Nanotubes' Allure NYTimes
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	Tuesday - April 10, 2007