Asc Marquee 1920x800

Advanced Simulation and Computing

Nuclear weapon simulation and computing

Ensuring the safety and reliability of the nation's nuclear weapons stockpile

The Advanced Simulation and Computing (ASC) Program supports the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Defense Programs by developing simulation capabilities and deploying computing platforms to analyze and predict the performance, safety, and reliability of nuclear weapons and to certify their functionality in the absence of nuclear testing. The ability to model the extraordinary complexity of nuclear weapons systems is an essential element of the Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP).

The ASC Program at Los Alamos delivers leading-edge computer systems, sophisticated physics and engineering codes, physical data, and uniquely qualified staff to support the science-based SSP. ASC tools enable nuclear weapons scientists and engineers to gain a comprehensive understanding of the weapons lifecycle—design, development, production, certification, life extension, retirement, and dismantlement—and take on the most challenging simulation problems of today and tomorrow.

Los Alamos works in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories to share long-distance computing capabilities so that SSP staff have access to the largest systems at any of the labs. ASC also collaborates with universities to advance the state-of-the-art in computational physics, including providing university students with access to ASC supercomputers.

Program elements

Integrated Codes

Integrated Codes (IC) contain the mathematical descriptions of the physical processes relating to nuclear weapon systems and describe what the nation knows about how nuclear weapons function.

Physics and Engineering Models

The Physics and Engineering Models (PEM) subprogram provides the models and databases used in simulations supporting the U.S. stockpile.

Verification and Validation

The Verification and Validation (V&V) subprogram provides evidence that the models in the codes produce mathematically credible answers that reflect physical reality.

Computational Systems and Software Environments

The Computational Systems and Software Environments (CSSE) subprogram builds integrated, balanced, and scalable computational capabilities to meet the predictive simulation requirements of the NNSA.

Facility Operations and User Support

The Facility Operations and User Support (FOUS) subprogram provides two critical enablers for the effective use of ASC tri-lab computing resources: 1) physical facility and operational support for reliable, cross-lab production computing and storage environments, and 2) a suite of user services.

Related Videos

All Videos

Computing News

All News
2024-11-21 cardComputing

AI algorithms deployed on-chip reduce power consumption of deep learning applications

Brain-inspired algorithm on neuromorphic hardware reduces cost of learning

2024-09-10Computing

Students get quantum computing mentorship and research experience

Fellowship covers theory, programming and hands-on projects

2024 08 26Computing

Los Alamos team cracks the code on the bane of quantum machine learning algorithms

Barren plateaus have long plagued progress in the field of variational quantum computing, but their understanding has been limited — until now

CONTACTS

  • Program Director
  • Scott Doebling
  • Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM 87545
  • Email
  • Deputy Program Director
  • Ed Dendy
  • Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM 87545
  • Email
  • Program Manager
  • Tabitha Lopez
  • Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM 87545
  • Email
  • Program Analyst
  • Suraj Bhakta
  • Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM 87545
  • Email
  • ASC Program Office
  • Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM 87545
  • (505) 667-9128

Resources