Name: Thomas Smith
Pronouns:
Biography:
Thomas M. Smith received a B.S. in aerospace engineering from The Pennsylvania State University, and a M.S. and Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. His Ph.D. dissertation focused on numerical methods for solving PDEs that describe turbulent combustion, physical models of turbulent reacting flow systems and how numerical methods and physical models couple and interact. He joined Sandia National Laboratories in 1998. For two decades he continued to research methods of solving PDEs in diverse areas such as low speed turbulent combustion using stabilized FEM, CFD both unstructured and structured using finite volume methods, drift-diffusion equations, linear elastic wave propagation using DG methods, atmospheric dynamics using spectral element methods and thermal hydraulics with unstructured mesh methods. For the past six years, he has been applying his experience and expertise in areas of computational plasma science including: kinetic theory, electromagnetics, plasma theory, turbulent MHD, and PIC methods.
Institution/Lab: Sandia National Laboratories
Website:
SRP Collaboration Topic/Title: High-Fidelity Computational Electromagnetics and Plasma Modeling
Field or research area: Computational EM Plasma Science
Please select all the topical areas that apply to your project:
Computational Science Applications (i.e., bioscience, cosmology, chemistry, environmental science, nanotechnology, climate, etc.); Computer Science (i.e., architectures, compilers/languages, networks, workflow/edge, experiment automation, containers, neuromorphic computing, programming models, operating systems, sustainable software); High-Performance Computing; Machine Learning and AI
Brief Abstract:
Computational electromagnetics and plasma physics (CEMP) are two areas of computational science that combine classical physics with high performance computing (HPC) to solve important national level problems. CEMP is a frontier in computational science requiring a great deal of discovery. The push to deliver fusion energy is growing, and at the national laboratories, universities and private sector, CEMP is playing an increasingly important role and will continue to do so. The project is centered around several fundamental concerns in CEMP. The first concern relates to verification of existing CEMP codes and asks the question “”Is the code correct?”” We use various numerical analysis techniques to answer this question including: developing analytic model problems from classic solutions, and constructing surrogate models that bridge gaps between theory and CEMP codes. We then run the CEMP on HPC systems to establish code credibility. The second concern relates to validation of CEMP codes and asks the question “”Is our model correct?”” To answer this question, we run sub- and system level simulations using HPC and use available data to determine how our CEMP solutions match up and address any gaps found in our modeling.
Desired relevant skills, background, or interests:
Training in mathematical physics and/or engineering (e.g., calculus, electromagnetics, fluid dynamics, computational fluid dynamics, plasma physics), A familiarity with programming in python and/or C++ is desired but not necessary, A familiarity with the Linux operating system
Other comments:
No formal training in plasma physics is necessary Interest in discovering how things work and how to solve difficult problems on a computer is important
Do any special requirements apply? Minimum GPA (specify what GPA in comments below); U.S. Citizen Only
Other, specify:
Keywords:
Computational Science Electromagnetics Plasma Physics MHD Verification & Validation
Lightning Talk Title: High-Fidelity Computational Electromagnetics and Plasma Modeling