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发表于 2006-5-27 20:56:29
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New Scientist 上的一篇文章:
http://www.newscientisttech.com/ ... tational-waves.html
Programmer speeds search for gravitational waves
15:24 17 May 2006
A global effort to detect gravitational waves has received an unexpected boost after a volunteer improved the computer code used comb through data from ground-based detectors.
Akos Fekete, a Hungarian programmer, is one of network of people who contribute their spare computer processing power to a project called Einstein@home, launched by the American Physical Society (APS) in March 2005. This links volunteers' PCs via the internet and uses their combined power to probe for data patterns that could reveal gravitational waves.
Gravitational waves are ripples in space-time predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity that should be radiated by massive objects such as black holes. Directly detecting them would provide astronomers with a very valuable new tool for observing the cosmos.
The data for Einstein@home is collected by two ground-based laser interferometers - LIGO in the US and GEO 600 in Germany. These two instruments use laser beams to try to detect the incredibly small distortions to space-time that gravitational waves are believed to cause.
Faster routine
Each computer involved in Einstein@home is given signal from a massive spinning neutron star, called a pulsar, to analyse. By searching for deviations in the pulsar's signal the computer can flag it up for closer analysis, possibly revealing ripples in space-time.
Fekete analysed the code given to his computer and soon realised he could improve it. "There is always a faster routine," Fekete told New Scientist. He says his experience of "low-level" programming - the code that directly controls the processor - was a big help is making it work faster.
He modified the code and submitted it to the project co-ordinators. The modifications at least double the speed of calculations, says James Riordon, a spokesman for the APS. The scientists behind the project hope to distribute the modifications to all users when the next batch of data is ready for analysis in June 2006.
Some participants have already tested the improvements and have been stunned by the results. "I wish to express my appreciation to Akos," writes one volunteer on the project's message board. "It's simply breathtaking what my old crusty machines are capable of now." |
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发表于 2006-5-14 20:44:35
