October 23, 2012

Venturing into the Heart of High-Performance Computing Simulations




IN the field of high-performance computing (HPC) and advanced simulations, Lawrence Livermore researchers have gained a worldwide reputation for success, especially in calculations showing how matter responds to extreme pressures and temperatures. Now, researchers have applied their expertise to a new type of simulation that aims to realistically mimic a beating human heart. The results could contribute to advancements in human health in much the same way that Livermore’s computational work for stockpile stewardship helps ensure the safety, security, and reliability of U.S. nuclear weapons.

The new simulations are made possible by a highly scalable code, called Cardioid, that replicates the electrophysiology of the human heart. Developed by Laboratory scientists working with colleagues at the IBM T. J. Watson Research Center in New York, the code accurately simulates the activation of each heart muscle cell and the cell-to-cell electric coupling.

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