Alternative Computing
Abstract
The Alternative Computing thrust is exploring and developing new computational primitives for modeling and simulating complex systems. Despite decades of rapid advancement in electronic computing, there remain important national security relevant challenge problems that do not lend themselves to achieving tractable solutions under size, weight, and power (SWaP) constrained conditions. For example, simulation of complex nonlinear phenomena such as turbulence, fluid flow, and plasma dynamics can be challenging even using currently available high-power computing resources. Building on technologies developed under the Advanced Tools for Modeling and Simulation thrust, also in this PE/Project, the goal of the Alternative Computing thrust is to develop novel architectural and algorithmic approaches to enable fast and accurate simulations for problems that are practically intractable using electronic computers. Approaches considered under this thrust include the following: (1) analog computing substrates for efficiently simulating systems governed by complex non-linear phenomena; (2) multi-functional spin-based devices for scalable, efficient neuromorphic computing; (3) computing approaches that exploit the capacity of nonlinear systems to simulate nonlinear dynamical systems; and (4) quantum enabled optimization of complex systems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2025
- Source ID
- 255e1852655be73cf8f112d1f222db2c