Session

DescriptionRay tracing is a highly accurate but computationally expensive technique for simulating the propagation of waves or particles in computational geometries. While widely employed in graphics rendering, this symposium explores adaptations of ray tracing for scientific applications. Presenters will discuss domain-specific challenges, optimizations, and HPC considerations within astrophysics, in-air acoustics, and particle transport applications. Prof. Monika Mościbrodzka will discuss ray tracing for astrophysical applications, with a focus on black hole imaging. Mr. Wouter Jansen will discuss acoustic ray tracing for simulating the echolocation behavior of bats. Dr. Elliott Biondo will discuss GPU-accelerated ray tracing within particle transport simulations for high-energy physics and nuclear engineering applications, including the use of tree-based acceleration structures and geometry-specific tracking algorithms. The wide range of scientific fields represented in this symposium will foster valuable cross-disciplinary collaborations and knowledge sharing among typically disparate research communities.