High Performance Computing in Science and Engineering 98

Prof. Dr. Egon Krause Aerodynamisches Institut, RWTH Aachen Wiillnerstr. 5 u7, . D-52062 Aachen Prof. Dr. Willi Jager Interdisziplinares Zentrum fUr Wissenschaftliches Rechnen Universitat Heidelberg 1m Neuenheimer Feld 368, D-69120 Heidelberg Computers have caused a revolution in science and technology. The fascinating development of hard- and software is continuing at an amazing speed and is having an impact on culture and society. Latest research results combined with modern, high-power hard- and software make it possible to tackle and solve problems of a magnitude previously too formidable to deal with. Computational Sciences and Engineering using mathematical modeling, software technology and modern computer systems are growing areas of research with an important impact on scientific and technological progress. Scientists and engineers have become used to PCs and workstations as a daily tool of their investigations; networks of workstations and graphic systems are part of the basic equipment of every research institute. Despite the fact that in these localized systems the available potential is constantly increasing, there is an urgent demand for especially powerful computers to solve complex and challenging problems. These tools can only be provided through special centers and have to be shared globally. High-performance computing has to be considered a basic requirement for the future development. This needs a well-structured system of computer equipment ranging from small to very large scales and a network of competence in modeling, algorithms and software.