MODEST Goals

MODEST is a loosely knit initiative of various groups working in stellar dynamics, stellar evolution, and stellar hydrodynamics. Our aim is to provide a software framework for large-scale simulations of dense stellar systems, within which existing codes for dynamics, stellar evolution, and hydrodynamics can be easily coupled. While many of us have talked for years about combining `live' stellar evolution codes directly with N-body simulations, we have now reached a consensus between various groups about standards and interfaces, what is needed, and what is doable. On this web site we will provide up-to-date information about our activities, and pointers to various projects in progress, including coordination with numerous Virtual Observatory projects around the world.

Although neither we nor our project goals could possibly be described as modest, we use the name also to indicate that we intend only MODEST modifications of existing codes, in order to model dense stellar systems. So the acronym can also be read as MODifying Existing STellar codes. Or, given the growing number of observers in our ranks, since simulations are performed in order to make contact with observations, the interpretation Modeling and Observing DEnse STellar systems is just as appropriate.

Other Initiatives

MODEST has spawned two importent new initiatives in recent years. Both are aimed at extending the MODEST goals in different ways.

• The MUSE project, for MUltiscale MUltiphysics Simlation Environment, was begun at MODEST-6d in Amsterdam, in March, 2006. It is a multipurpose software environment for astrophysical applications in which different existing numerical codes are incorporated into a single framework. This component library provides easy access to individual packages and allows scientists to use combinations of codes to solve coupled problems in hydrodynamics, radiative transfer, stellar evolution, and stellar dynamics, without the need to write new codes or significantly alter existing codes. For more information, please see the MUSE wiki.

  Here is a movie created by Steve McMillan and Evert Glebbeek, using MUSE to combine a 4th-order Hermite N-body integrator written in C++ with a Fortran (77/90) implementation of Peter Eggleton's Twin stellar evolution code.

• MICA, the Meta Institute for Computational Astrophysics, begun in 2007, is a virtual astronomy institute featuring many MODEST-related activities. Aimed at harnessing the capabilities of virtual worlds and 3D collaborative environments (such as Second Life, Qwaq, Sun Wonderland), it fosters interaction among astrophysicists with interest in large-scale simulations, including dense stellar systems. Outreach and educational activities are also major MICA goals. MICA weekly events include popular talks, computational astrophysics lectures and Journal Club discussions of recent astro-ph papers. The MICA wiki, containing more information, schedules of events, and links to related pages, can be found here.