[MODEST] MUSE and MODEST-7a

[Steve McMillan]

Dear MODEST astronomer,

     The MODEST-7a workshop was held in Split, Croatia, between August 
25 and September 1.  The principal goal of the meeting was the 
development of the MUSE software framework for the simulation of dense 
stellar systems -- a programming environment in which existing 
subroutines written in different languages can be combined into a single 
program.

     I am pleased to announce that, as of the end of the workshop, we 
have in place a working framework incorporating 3 dynamical, 2 
hydrodynamical, and 1 (very soon to be 3) stellar/binary evolution 
modules, all capable of operating independently and interchangeably 
within a top-level python script.  The languages used in the modules are 
Fortran (77, 90, 95), C, and C++, but the MUSE interface means that they 
can communicate in a uniform way.

     To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time -- at least in 
our field -- that several independently written programs have been 
integrated within a single simulation.  It opens up exciting new 
opportunities in collaborative programming, code comparison, and novel 
astrophysical simulations.  Congratulations to all the MODEST-7a 
participants on a very successful meeting!

     If you are interested in learning more about or contributing to the 
MUSE project, please visit the web site at

     http://muse.li

If you would like to subscribe to the MUSE developers mailing list, 
please visit

     http://lists.muse.li/mailman/listinfo/developers

Steve McMillan


-- 
Stephen L. W. McMillan, Professor of Physics, Drexel University
+1 215-895-2723, FAX +1 215-895-1549, steve at physics.drexel.edu