“Given the remarkable performance improvements over many generations of classical microprocessors [7] and the impressive algorithmic improvements in mixed-integer programming tools like Gurobi [29] over the past several decades, it is surprising that D-Wave’s third generation hardware and our straightforward algorithm can be competitive at all. In the series of four chips that D-Wave has released, the number of qubits has approximately doubled from one generation to the next while the number of couplers per qubit has remained essentially unchanged. D-Wave’s fifth generation chip is expected to at least double the number of couplers per qubit [30, 3]. If this comes to fruition, it would likely have a significant, positive impact on the performance of the DWave for the problems we consider here.”
New Paper: A First Step towards Quantum-Powered Machine Learning
nCorium Startup joins LANL’s Efficient Mission Centric Computing Consortium for Ultra-scale Efficiency
The San Jose-based startup company nCorium has joined Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Efficient Mission Centric Computing Consortium (EMC3) in the quest for efficient, ultra-scale computing. “We are excited to be working with nCorium to explore moving data multiple times faster than current approaches while adding value to the data as it moves,” said Gary Grider, HPC Division Leader at Los Alamos. “The prospect of using far less data movement/storage nodes in our environment while providing more in-flight data manipulation is an important step towards the higher efficiencies that the EMC3 seeks.”
Record SC18 Attendance a Bellwether for Growth in HPC Market
The SC18 conference drew a record-breaking 13,071 attendees, making it the largest SC conference of all time. As the premier international conference showcasing high performance computing, networking, storage, and analysis, the conference and exhibition infused the local economy with more than $40 million in revenue, according to the local Dallas Convention Bureau.
Video: Intel Driving HPC on the Road to Exascale
In this video from SC18, Raj Hazra describes how Intel is driving the convergence of HPC and Ai. “To meet the new computational challenges presented by this AI and HPC convergence, HPC is expanding beyond its traditional role of modeling and simulation to encompass visualization, analytics, and machine learning. Intel scientists and engineers will be available to discuss how to implement AI capabilities into your current HPC environments and demo how new, more powerful HPC platforms can be applied to meet your computational needs now and in the future.”
Intel Continues HPC Leadership at SC18
In this video from SC18 in Dallas, Trish Damkroger describes how Intel is pushing the limits of HPC and Machine Learning with a full suite of Hardware, Software, and Cloud technologies. ”
Today’s high performance computers are unleashing discovery and insights at an unprecedented pace. The intersection of artificial intelligence and HPC has the potential to transform industries from life sciences to manufacturing, while solving some of the toughest challenges in our world. At SC18, HPC users got to experience how Intel’s holistic portfolio of products is transforming HPC from traditional modeling and simulation to visualization, analytics, and artificial intelligence.”
HPC Veteran Charlie Wuischpard Joins Optical Startup Ayar Labs
Today Ayar Labs announced that Charlie Wuischpard, former vice president and general manager at Intel, has joined Ayar Labs as CEO and a member of the board of directors. “With his track record of driving growth in both small and large companies, forming deep trusted relationships with high performance computing industry participants, and delivering value to stakeholders, we know he will lead Ayar Labs to growth in the advanced computing and data center markets.”
Job of the Week: HPC Emerging Technology Researcher at Chevron
Chevron is seeking an HPC Emerging Technology Researcher in our Job of the Week. “This position will be accountable for strategic research, technology development and business engagement to deliver High Performance Computing solutions that differentiate Chevron’s performance. The successful candidate is expected to manage projects and small programs and personally apply and grow technical skills in the Advanced Computing space.”
SC18 Plenary to focus on HPC & Ai on Nov. 12
Over at the SC18 Blog, SC Insider writes that the upcoming Conference Plenary session will examine the potential for advanced computing to help mitigate human suffering and elevate our capacity to protect the most vulnerable. “In this SC18 plenary session, you will hear from innovators who are redefining how we predict and prevent humanitarian crises by leveraging advanced computing. The session is the conference kick-off event, and will be follow by Exhibitor Opening Gala on Monday night, Nov. 12.”
Video: The Incredible New Supersonic Affinity Jet Engine from GE
In this video, GE showcases its initial design of the first-ever supersonic engine purpose-built for business jets. The “Affinity” engine is optimized with proven GE technology for supersonic flight and timed to meet the Aerion AS2 launch. “GE Aviation has more than 60 years of experience in designing and building engines adapted for supersonic aircraft. Its first engine to push us into the supersonic era was the J79, which was introduced with Lockheed on their F-104 Starfighter in the mid-1950s.”
Podcast: Quantum Network to Test Unhackable Communications
In this Big Brains podcast, David Awschalom describes how he’s helping to train a new generation of quantum engineers. “The behavior of these tiny pieces is unlike anything we see in our world,” Awschalom said. “If I pull a wagon, you know how it’s going to move. But at the atomic world, things don’t work that way. Wagons can go through walls; wagons can be entangled and share information that is hard to separate.”
