PNNL

Abstract

The Eighth International Conference on Computer Simulation of Radiation Effects in Solids (COSIRES 2006) was hosted by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, WA, USA from 18-23 June 2006. This conference series started in 1992 in Berlin, Germany. Since then, the conference has been held biennially in Santa Barbara, CA, USA (1994); Guildford, UK (1996); Okayama, Japan (1998); State College, PA, USA (2000); Dresden, Germany (2002); and Helsinki, Finland (2004). The COSIRES conferences are the foremost international forum on the theory, development and application of advanced computer simulation methodologies to achieve fundamental understanding and predictive modeling of the interaction of energetic particles and clusters with solids. This scope includes subsequent defect interactions and microstructure evolution as functions of environmental variables, such as energy and temperature, and over multiple spatial and temporal scales. Fundamental understanding and interpretation of radiation effects processes are often not accessible by experimental methods, since they occur on very small time and length scales. Thus, these computer simulation methodologies have proven to be very useful for the study of fundamental processes and, as can be observed in these proceedings, they are now becoming increasingly applied to the development of predictive models of materials processing and performance for advanced industrial and energy-production technologies. By all indications, this is an active and thriving area of research with potential for growth. We greatly appreciated the opportunity to host 96 participants from 15 different countries, one third of whom were graduate students or post docs who provided youthful enthusiasm and new perspectives to the presentations and discussions. The success of the meeting was to a large extent made possible by generous financial support from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Cray, Inc., and IBM. We are very grateful for the support received, as well as the efforts provided for the meeting by the international advisory committee, program committee and most of all the local organizing committee. Without the assistance of the local organizing committee, the meeting would not have run as smoothly and pleasantly as it did. We especially want to thank Yanwen Zhang for managing the manuscript submission and review process, Sue Finch for financial management, and Shirley Alderson for hotel, event, and tour arrangements.