Coping with uncertainty and stress: a parallel computation approach. (10th July 2006)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Akl, Selim G.
• Is Part Of: International journal of high performance computing and networking. Volume 4:Number 1/2(2006)
• Page Start: 85
• Page End: 90
• Publication Date: 2006-07-10
• Subjects: equilibrium -- parallel computation -- real time -- uncertainty -- stress -- high performance computing; High performance computing -- Periodicals; Computer networks -- Periodicals; High performance computing; Periodicals; 004.05
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1740-0562

Abstract

This paper is concerned with computations whose characteristics are akin to certain unique phenomena that occur in different domains of science. We are particularly interested in systems whose parameters are altered unpredictably whenever one of these parameters is measured or modified. Examples of such computational environments include those in which Heisenberg's uncertainty principle of quantum physics is witnessed, or those in which Le Chatelier's principle of chemical systems under stress manifests itself. A study of these systems uncovers computations that are inherently parallel in the strong sense, meaning that they are efficiently executed in parallel, but impossible to carry out sequentially.