China to jump supercomputer barrier（中国突破超级计算机技术壁垒）（英文）
张之豪,张敏
China to jump supercomputer barrier
China has started to build a new-generation supercomputer that is expected to be 10 times faster than the current world champion.
This year, China is aiming for breakthroughs in high-performance processors and other key technologies to build the world's first prototype exascale supercomputer, the Tianhe-3, said Meng Xiangfei, the director of application at the National Super Computer Tianjin Center. The prototype is expected to be completed in early 2018.
"Exascale" means it will be capable of making a quintillion (1 followed by 18 zeros) calculations per second. That is at least 10 times faster than the world's current speed champ, the Sunway TaihuLight, China's first supercomputer to use domestically designed processors. That computer has a peak speed of 125 quadrillion (1 followed by 15 zeros) calculations per second, he said.
"Its computing power is on the next level, cementing China as the world leader in supercomputer hardware," Meng said. It would be available for public use and "help us tackle some of the world's toughest scientific challenges with greater speed, precision and scope", he added.
Tianhe-3 will be made entirely in China, from processors to operating system. It will be stationed in Tianjin and fully operational by 2020, earlier than the US plan for its exascale supercomputer, he said.
China also likely has another exascale supercomputer in the works. "Such machines take years to make and typically are retired in six to eight years, so you always need a backup, especially when your older models are overworked."
Tianhe-1, China's first quadrillion-level supercomputer developed in 2009, is now working at full capacity, undertaking more than 1,400 assignments each day, solving problems "from stars to cells".
The exascale supercomputer will be able to analyze smog distribution on a national level, while current models can only handle a district. Tianhe-3 also could simulate earthquakes and epidemic outbreaks in more detail, allowing swifter and more effective government responses, Meng said.
The new machine also will be able to analyze gene sequence and protein structures in unprecedented scale and speed. That may lead to new discoveries and more potent medicine, he said.
Liu Guangming, director of the National Super Computer Tianjin Center, said Tianhe-3 will generate over 10 billion yuan ($1.49 billion) in economic benefits per year, according to the The Paper, a Shanghai news organization.
中国突破超级计算机技术壁垒
中国已启动研制新一代超级计算机，该款计算机将比现在世界上最快的超级计算机运行速度还要快10倍。
中国国家超级计算天津中心应用研发部部长孟祥飞表示，目前中国正在瞄准高性能处理器和其他关键技术方面的突破，以研制世界上第一台百亿亿次超级计算机——“天河三号”的原型机。该原型机预计将在2018年初完成。
“百亿亿次”意味着它的浮点计算处理能力将达到10的18次方。这比目前全球最快的超级计算机——“神威·太湖之光”的速度至少快10倍。“神威”是中国第一台使用国产处理器的超级计算机，其每秒钟的峰值计算能力达到125万亿次。
“‘天河三号’的运算能力将更上一层楼，能巩固中国在超级计算机硬件领域的世界领先地位。”孟祥飞说，“它未来将向公众开放使用，并帮助我们以更快的速度、更高的精度和广度解决一些世界上最棘手的科学难题。”
孟祥飞透露，落户天津的“天河三号”从处理器到操作系统将完全在中国制造，并计划在2020年左右全面投入使用，早于美国超级计算机的制造计划。
中国也可能同时在研发其他的百亿亿次超级计算机。孟祥飞指出：“超级计算机需要花费很多年才能制造出来，并且通常会在6-8年内退役，所以你总是需要一个备用，尤其是在老款机型常常超负荷工作时。”
“天河一号”是中国第一台千万亿次超级计算机，目前正满负荷工作，每天承担1400多项任务，解决“从行星到细胞”等各式各样的问题。
百亿亿次的超级计算机能分析全国的雾霾扩散情况，而目前的超级计算机只能分析一个地区的雾霾扩散情况。孟祥飞说，“天河三号”可以更详细、更快速地模拟地震和疫情爆发数据，使政府的应急措施更加迅速和有效。新超级计算机还将以前所未有的速度分析基因序列和蛋白质结构。这可能会带来新的发现和产出更有效的药物。
国家超级计算机天津中心主任刘光明透露，预计“天河三号”每年将产生超过100亿元人民币（约14.9亿美元）的实际经济效益。
