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Llvermore, CA., U.S.A. 



NATIONAL MAGNETIC FUSION ENERGY COMPUTER CENTER 

 Lawrence Llvermore National Laboratory (LLNL) 

 U.S. Dept. of Energy 



"Big Science" Descriptor : Supercomputers for magnetic fusion energy 

 research 



Description of Facility/Instrument ; This is a large-scale computing 

 facility which enables scientists to study the physics of mag- 

 netically-confined plasmas by means of computer simulations and 

 engineers to design models needed In fusion reactor studies. The 

 Center serves 3500 individual users In 58 universities, 19 indus- 

 trial concerns, and 23 laboratories. The users access the Center 

 through five gateways dispersed throughout the United States 

 which communicate by means of 56 K baud satellite channels. Its 

 large-scale computers Include two Cray 1 machines; one Cray XMP, 

 and one Cray 2 scheduled for delivery in May 1985. The users are 

 supported by a staff of 85 professionals. 



Date of Construction ; The center began operating in July 1974. It ac- 

 quired Its first Cray around 1977. 



Construction Cost : 1984 $$ : $33-$40 million 



Present International Cooperation 



Nationality(s) of Ownership : U.S. 

 Natlonallty(s) of Operational Funding : U.S. 

 Nationallty(s) of Management Staff : U.S. 



Natlonallty(s) of Researchers : Some users are not U.S. citizens, 

 but such use is sporadic. 



Potential for Future International Cooperation ; There are current dis- 

 cussions regarding possible use by Japanese researchers for a 

 potential U.S. -Japan joint effort in magnetic fusion energy re- 

 search. 



Other Information ; This center is managed by the University of Cali- 

 fornia under contract with the U.S. Dept. of Energy. 



See also LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY COMPUTER 

 CENTER, which is used for national security classified work. 



