An Experiment in Using Virtual Worlds for Scientific Visualization of Self-Gravitating Systems

Authors

  • Will Meierjurgen Farr Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Piet Hut Institute for Advanced Study
  • Jeff Ames Genkii
  • Adam Johnson Genkii

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4101/jvwr.v2i3.659

Keywords:

scientific visualization, simulation, OpenSim, n-body

Abstract

In virtual worlds objects fall straight down. By replacing a few lines of code to include Newton's gravity in full, virtual world software can become an N-body simulation code with visualization included where objects move under their mutual gravitational attraction as stars in a cluster. We report on our recent experience of adding a gravitational n-body simulator to the OpenSim virtual world physics engine. OpenSim is an open-source, virtual world server that provides a 3D immersive experience to users who connect using the popular
Volume 2, Number 3 - Technology, Economy and Standards in Virtual Worlds

Downloads

Published

2009-09-03

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 3 (2009): Technology, Economy and Standards

Section

Peer Reviewed Research Papers

License

The JVWR is an academic journal. As such, it is dedicated to the open exchange of information. For this reason, JVWR is freely available to individuals and institutions. Copies of this journal or articles in this journal may be distributed for research or educational purposes only free of charge and without permission. However, the JVWR does not grant permission for use of any content in advertisements or advertising supplements or in any manner that would imply an endorsement of any product or service. All uses beyond research or educational purposes require the written permission of the JVWR. Authors who publish in the Journal of Virtual Worlds Research will release their articles under the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivative Works 3.0 United States (cc-by-nd) license. This journal utilizes the LOCKSS system to create a distributed archiving system among participating libraries and permits those libraries to create permanent archives of the journal for purposes of preservation and restoration. The publisher perpetually authorizes participants in the LOCKSS system to archive and restore our publication through the LOCKSS System for the benefit of all LOCKSS System participants. Specifically participating libraries may: