Falcon is an SGI ICE X supercomputer currently operated and used by a consortium of Idaho research universities (University of Idaho, Boise State University, Idaho State University). Falcon is owned by Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and ranked 97th on the Top 500 list of the world’s fastest supercomputers when it was operationalized in 2014 and significantly upgraded in 2017. Through a Memorandum of Understanding (January 2022), management and use of Falcon was transferred to the Idaho research computing consortium.
Falcon uses Globus for moving large research datasets to/from Idaho’s Universities and beyond across IRON and Internet2. This is the main mechanism for researchers to get their data into and out of Falcon and ties directly into IRON and its mission/infrastructure. Here are just a few examples:
- Using Falcon for Nuclear Salts: The Falcon supercomputer is being used by scientists like John Russell, Associate Director for University of Idaho’s Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES), to work on the fundamental physics behind new molten salt technologies. These are advanced nuclear technologies capable of generating efficient electrical energy.
- Falcon Helps to Create 3D Models Of Water Flow Through Sediment: The Falcon supercomputer’s speed and efficiency enable the Center for Ecohydraulics Research to create detailed 3D models of water flow through sediment. The supercomputer allows researchers to go finer and deeper into their calculations and explorations of flow behavior.
- Simulating Colliding Black Holes Using Falcon: The Falcon supercomputer is used to simulate the collision of black holes in space. As two black holes orbit, they emit gravitational waves that carry energy keeping them apart. The supercomputer helps simulate this process, including the potential for the black holes to spiral towards each other and merge.
- Falcon Workshop: The website also provides information about a hands-on workshop where research computing experts guide participants on how to use the Falcon Supercomputer for their specific research.
- Falcon Supercomputer Now Available to U of I Researchers: Falcon, a supercomputer offering more than 10 times the processing power of any academic cluster in the region, is now available for use by University of Idaho faculty, staff, and student researchers.
- Idaho Universities Gain Access to INL Supercomputer: Students and faculty at Idaho’s three public research universities now have access to one of the nation’s fastest academic supercomputers thanks to an agreement signed in January. The supercomputer is housed at the Idaho National Laboratory.
