2002-2003 Program: Optimization

Simulation is a powerful tool in science and engineering for predicting the behavior of physical systems, particularly those that are governed by partial differential equations. Moreover, progress in algorithms and computational hardware has been responsible for improvements in simulation. Using today's simulation tools it has now become practical to consider complex design problems, where we wish to determine parameters of large systems that maximizes a certain objective, and inverse problems where we wish to determine parameters whose behavior matches measured data. Examples of design problems include structural optimization, antenna design and process optimization. Geophysical imaging, biomedical imaging, weather data assimilations are just a few examples of inverse problems where the physics is governed by partial differential equations.

While these types of problems are naturally posed as optimization problems, they offer new challenges because of their large size, inexact derivatives (when available), and ill-posedness. Current software cannot be used because matrices of constraint gradients cannot be factored, and computing with null space bases can be exceedingly expensive. This workshop is meant to bring scientists working in simulation science with interest in optimization together with researchers in the optimization community who want to understand better the obstacles the practioners are facing. Our aim is to create a forum whereby the researchers in optimization will learn about the difficulties facing scientists from the application areas, and for those in the applications to learn about the state-of-the-art of the techniques from the optimization community. New classess of algorithms, preconditioners and software should be created from this interation. Application topics include optimal design problems in computational fluid dynamics, electromagnetics, time-dependent processes, structural mechanics, and inverse problems in seismology, medical imaging, data assimilation, and porous medium flow. In optimization, techniques such as automatic differentiation, derivative-free optimization, sensitivity computations, preconditioners and exploitation of structure will be emphasized. The goal of the workshop is to stimulate and nurture a research community that addresses optimization problems arising in simulation science.

WORKSHOP/MINISYMPOSIUM SCHEDULE

LIST OF CONFIRMED PARTICIPANTS