Modern computation generates data -- lots and lots of data. Obtaining scientific knowledge from the results requires synthesizing vast datasets into fundamental understanding. A single image is unrivaled in its ability to produce not only insight but also beauty, revealing as a distillate what otherwise remains impenetrably hidden: 'a picture is worth a thousand terabytes.'

In visualization many aesthetic choices must be made. While an image from a computer simulation or a vast dataset can be functional, it can also be aesthetic. Astrophysics is a discipline rich in natural beauty, from planets and stars to galaxies and the large-scale structure of the Universe.

This project is dedicated to the most arresting, most captivating, and most pioneering visualization efforts in computational astrophysics. The hope is to inspire and motivate work beyond the functional, and to capture the evolving language of design within the context of our humble corner of space.

Have a suggestion or an amazing example? Suggestions are always welcome.

Dylan Nelson

topological string

A topological string is a fundamental prediction of many theoretical field models, including grand-unified and superstring theories. Here, the evolution of a global cosmic string is simulated, particularly its emission due to oscillation. This visualization shows "massive" radiation from such a string, traced through a diagnostic parameter of the real momenta. It exhibits a 3D dipole signal with a dominant propagating dipole eigenmode, although the outgoing wavepackets have additional structure.

Methods: numerical relativity code GRChombo + paraview

date added Oct. 7, 2019

categories 3d

author Amelia Drew

origin arxiv 1910.01718