The DiRAC-2.5y Facility
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leicester
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
Physicists across the astronomy, nuclear and particle physics communities are focussed
on understanding how the Universe works at a very fundamental level. The distance scales
with which they work vary by 50 orders of magnitude from the smallest distances probed
by experiments at the Large Hadron Collider, deep within the atomic
nucleus, to the largest scale galaxy clusters discovered out in space. The Science challenges,
however, are linked through questions such as: How did the Universe begin and how is it evolving?
and What are the fundamental constituents and fabric of the Universe and how do they interact?
Progress requires new astronomical observations and experimental data but also
new theoretical insights. Theoretical understanding comes increasingly from large-scale
computations that allow us to confront the consequences of our theories very accurately
with the data or allow us to interrogate the data in detail to extract information that has
impact on our theories. These computations test the fastest computers that we have and
push the boundaries of technology in this sector. They also provide an excellent
environment for training students in state-of-the-art techniques for code optimisation and
data mining and visualisation.
The DiRAC2 HPC facility has been operating since 2012, providing computing resources for theoretical research
in all areas of particle physics, astronomy, cosmology and nuclear physics supported by STFC. It is a highly productive
facility, generating 200-250 papers annually in international, peer-reviewed journals. However, the DiRAC facility risks becoming uncompetitive as it has remained static in terms of overall capability since 2012. The DiRAC-2.5x investment in 2017/18 mitigated the risk of hardware failures, by replacing our oldest hardware components. However, as the factor 5 oversubscription of the most recent RAC call demonstrated, the science programme in 2019/20 and beyond requires a significant uplift in DiRAC's compute capability. The main purpose of the requested funding for the DiRAC2.5y project is to provide a factor 2 increase in computing across all DiRAC services to enable the facility to remain competitive during 2019/20 in anticipation of future funding for DiRAC-3.
DiRAC2.5y builds on the success of the DiRAC HPC facility and will provide the resources needed to support cutting-edge research
during 2019 in all areas of science supported by STFC. While the funding is required to remain competitive, the science programme will continue to be world-leading. Examples of the projects which will benefit from this investment include:
(i) lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD) calculations of the properties of fundamental particles from first principles;
(ii) improving the potential of experiments at CERN's Large Hadron Collider for discovery of new physics by increasing the accuracy of theoretical predictions for rare processes involving the fundamental constituents of matter known as quarks;
(iii) simulations of the merger of pairs of black holes amnwhich generate gravitational waves such as those recently discovered by the LIGO consortium;
(iv) the most realistic simulations to date of the formation and evolution of galaxies in the Universe;
(v) the accretion of gas onto supermassive black holes, the most efficient means of extracting energy from matter and the engine which drives galaxy evolution;
(vi) new models of our own Milky Way galaxy calibrated using new data from the European Space Agency's GAIA satellite;
(vii) detailed simulations of the interior of the sun and of planetary interiors;
(viii) the formation of stars in clusters - for the first time it will be possible to follow the formation of massive stars.
on understanding how the Universe works at a very fundamental level. The distance scales
with which they work vary by 50 orders of magnitude from the smallest distances probed
by experiments at the Large Hadron Collider, deep within the atomic
nucleus, to the largest scale galaxy clusters discovered out in space. The Science challenges,
however, are linked through questions such as: How did the Universe begin and how is it evolving?
and What are the fundamental constituents and fabric of the Universe and how do they interact?
Progress requires new astronomical observations and experimental data but also
new theoretical insights. Theoretical understanding comes increasingly from large-scale
computations that allow us to confront the consequences of our theories very accurately
with the data or allow us to interrogate the data in detail to extract information that has
impact on our theories. These computations test the fastest computers that we have and
push the boundaries of technology in this sector. They also provide an excellent
environment for training students in state-of-the-art techniques for code optimisation and
data mining and visualisation.
The DiRAC2 HPC facility has been operating since 2012, providing computing resources for theoretical research
in all areas of particle physics, astronomy, cosmology and nuclear physics supported by STFC. It is a highly productive
facility, generating 200-250 papers annually in international, peer-reviewed journals. However, the DiRAC facility risks becoming uncompetitive as it has remained static in terms of overall capability since 2012. The DiRAC-2.5x investment in 2017/18 mitigated the risk of hardware failures, by replacing our oldest hardware components. However, as the factor 5 oversubscription of the most recent RAC call demonstrated, the science programme in 2019/20 and beyond requires a significant uplift in DiRAC's compute capability. The main purpose of the requested funding for the DiRAC2.5y project is to provide a factor 2 increase in computing across all DiRAC services to enable the facility to remain competitive during 2019/20 in anticipation of future funding for DiRAC-3.
DiRAC2.5y builds on the success of the DiRAC HPC facility and will provide the resources needed to support cutting-edge research
during 2019 in all areas of science supported by STFC. While the funding is required to remain competitive, the science programme will continue to be world-leading. Examples of the projects which will benefit from this investment include:
(i) lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD) calculations of the properties of fundamental particles from first principles;
(ii) improving the potential of experiments at CERN's Large Hadron Collider for discovery of new physics by increasing the accuracy of theoretical predictions for rare processes involving the fundamental constituents of matter known as quarks;
(iii) simulations of the merger of pairs of black holes amnwhich generate gravitational waves such as those recently discovered by the LIGO consortium;
(iv) the most realistic simulations to date of the formation and evolution of galaxies in the Universe;
(v) the accretion of gas onto supermassive black holes, the most efficient means of extracting energy from matter and the engine which drives galaxy evolution;
(vi) new models of our own Milky Way galaxy calibrated using new data from the European Space Agency's GAIA satellite;
(vii) detailed simulations of the interior of the sun and of planetary interiors;
(viii) the formation of stars in clusters - for the first time it will be possible to follow the formation of massive stars.
Planned Impact
The anticipated impact of the DiRAC2.5y HPC facility aligns closely with the recently published UK Industrial Strategy. As such, many of our key impacts will be driven by our engagements with industry. Each service provider for DiRAC2.5y has a local industrial strategy to deliver increased levels of industrial returns over the next three years.
The "Pathways to impact" document which is attached to this proposal describes the overall industrial strategy for the DiRAC facility, including our strategic goals and key performance indicators.
The "Pathways to impact" document which is attached to this proposal describes the overall industrial strategy for the DiRAC facility, including our strategic goals and key performance indicators.
Organisations
Publications
Wen K
(2019)
Dissipation Dynamics of Nuclear Fusion Reactions
in Acta Physica Polonica B
Rosito M
(2019)
Assembly of spheroid-dominated galaxies in the EAGLE simulation
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Rosito M
(2019)
The mass-size plane of EAGLE galaxies
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Reid J
(2020)
Coronal energy release by MHD avalanches: Heating mechanisms
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Hildebrandt H
(2020)
KiDS+VIKING-450: Cosmic shear tomography with optical and infrared data
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Nixon C
(2019)
What is wrong with steady accretion discs?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Mercer A
(2020)
Planet formation around M dwarfs via disc instability Fragmentation conditions and protoplanet properties
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Reid J
(2018)
Coronal energy release by MHD avalanches: continuous driving
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Pagano P
(2019)
MHD simulations of the in situ generation of kink and sausage waves in the solar corona by collision of dense plasma clumps
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Debras F
(2019)
Eigenvectors, Circulation, and Linear Instabilities for Planetary Science in 3 Dimensions (ECLIPS3D)
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Liu Y
(2019)
Ring structure in the MWC 480 disk revealed by ALMA
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Vincenzo F
(2019)
He abundances in disc galaxies I. Predictions from cosmological chemodynamical simulations
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Rouillard A
(2020)
Models and data analysis tools for the Solar Orbiter mission
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Sainsbury-Martinez F
(2019)
Idealised simulations of the deep atmosphere of hot Jupiters Deep, hot adiabats as a robust solution to the radius inflation problem
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Howson T
(2019)
Magnetohydrodynamic waves in braided magnetic fields
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Pagano P
(2019)
Contribution of observed multi frequency spectrum of Alfvén waves to coronal heating
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Potter M
(2019)
Forced magnetic reconnection and plasmoid coalescence I. Magnetohydrodynamic simulations
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Reid J
(2020)
Determining whether the squashing factor, Q , would be a good indicator of reconnection in a resistive MHD experiment devoid of null points
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Debras F
(2019)
Acceleration of superrotation in simulated hot Jupiter atmospheres
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Green S
(2019)
Thermal emission from bow shocks I. 2D hydrodynamic models of the Bubble Nebula
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Harries T
(2019)
The TORUS radiation transfer code
in Astronomy and Computing
Rosca-Mead R
(2019)
Inverse-chirp signals and spontaneous scalarisation with self-interacting potentials in stellar collapse
in Classical and Quantum Gravity
Horowitz G
(2019)
Creating a traversable wormhole
in Classical and Quantum Gravity
Tsang Y
(2020)
Characterising Jupiter's dynamo radius using its magnetic energy spectrum
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Hori K
(2019)
Anelastic torsional oscillations in Jupiter's metallic hydrogen region
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Moliné Á
(2019)
Properties of Subhalos in the Interacting Dark Matter Scenario
in Galaxies
Zavala J
(2019)
Dark Matter Haloes and Subhaloes
in Galaxies
Young R
(2019)
Simulating Jupiter's weather layer. Part I: Jet spin-up in a dry atmosphere
in Icarus
Irwin P
(2019)
Analysis of gaseous ammonia (NH3) absorption in the visible spectrum of Jupiter - Update
in Icarus
Young R
(2019)
Simulating Jupiter's weather layer. Part II: Passive ammonia and water cycles
in Icarus
Muia F
(2019)
The fate of dense scalar stars
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Barrera-Hinojosa C
(2020)
GRAMSES: a new route to general relativistic N -body simulations in cosmology. Part I. Methodology and code description
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Shiraishi M
(2019)
General modal estimation for cross-bispectra
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Bozorgnia N
(2019)
On the correlation between the local dark matter and stellar velocities
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Widdicombe J
(2020)
Black hole formation in relativistic Oscillaton collisions
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Aviles A
(2020)
Marked correlation functions in perturbation theory
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Hughes D
(2019)
Force balance in convectively driven dynamos with no inertia
in Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Allanson O
(2019)
Particle-in-cell Experiments Examine Electron Diffusion by Whistler-mode Waves: 1. Benchmarking With a Cold Plasma
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Bennett E
(2019)
Sp (4) gauge theories on the lattice: Nf = 2 dynamical fundamental fermions
in Journal of High Energy Physics
Marolf D
(2019)
Phases of holographic Hawking radiation on spatially compact spacetimes
in Journal of High Energy Physics
Bena I
(2019)
Holographic dual of hot Polchinski-Strassler quark-gluon plasma
in Journal of High Energy Physics
Adam A
(2019)
Nonresonant Raman spectra of the methyl radical 12CH3 simulated in variational calculations
in Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy
Horsley R
(2019)
Isospin splittings in the decuplet baryon spectrum from dynamical QCD + QED
in Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics
Thob A
(2019)
The relationship between the morphology and kinematics of galaxies and its dependence on dark matter halo structure in EAGLE
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Currie L
(2020)
Convection with misaligned gravity and rotation: simulations and rotating mixing length theory
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Baugh C
(2019)
Galaxy formation in the Planck Millennium: the atomic hydrogen content of dark matter haloes
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Harvey D
(2019)
Observable tests of self-interacting dark matter in galaxy clusters: BCG wobbles in a constant density core
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ali A
(2019)
Massive star feedback in clusters: variation of the FUV interstellar radiation field in time and space
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Monachesi A
(2019)
The Auriga stellar haloes: connecting stellar population properties with accretion and merging history
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gray M
(2019)
Maser flare simulations from oblate and prolate clouds
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society