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
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
Harries T
(2019)
The TORUS radiation transfer code
in Astronomy and Computing
Hall C
(2019)
The Temporal Requirements of Directly Observing Self-gravitating Spiral Waves in Protoplanetary Disks with ALMA
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gurung-López S
(2019)
Lya emitters in a cosmological volume - I. The impact of radiative transfer
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Guervilly C
(2019)
Turbulent convective length scale in planetary cores.
in Nature
Guelpers V
(2019)
Isospin breaking corrections to the HVP at the physical point
Grisdale K
(2019)
On the observed diversity of star formation efficiencies in Giant Molecular Clouds
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Griffin A
(2019)
The evolution of SMBH spin and AGN luminosities for z < 6 within a semi-analytic model of galaxy formation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Green S
(2019)
Thermal emission from bow shocks I. 2D hydrodynamic models of the Bubble Nebula
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Gray M
(2019)
Maser flare simulations from oblate and prolate clouds
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gration A
(2019)
Dynamical modelling of dwarf spheroidal galaxies using Gaussian-process emulation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Goyal J
(2019)
Fully scalable forward model grid of exoplanet transmission spectra
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gourgouliatos K
(2017)
Reconfinement and loss of stability in jets from active galactic nuclei
in Nature Astronomy
Gourgouliatos K
(2017)
Magnetic Axis Drift and Magnetic Spot Formation in Neutron Stars with Toroidal Fields
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gourgouliatos K
(2019)
Nonaxisymmetric Hall instability: A key to understanding magnetars
in Physical Review Research
Gourgouliatos K
(2018)
Relativistic centrifugal instability
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Gorman M
(2019)
ExoMol molecular line lists XXXVI: X 2? - X 2? and A 2S+ - X 2? transitions of SH
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Golightly E
(2019)
On the Diversity of Fallback Rates from Tidal Disruption Events with Accurate Stellar Structure
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Golightly E
(2019)
Tidal Disruption Events: The Role of Stellar Spin
in The Astrophysical Journal
Goldsmith K
(2018)
A comparison of shock-cloud and wind-cloud interactions: effect of increased cloud density contrast on cloud evolution
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Glesaaen J
(2019)
Hadronic spectrum calculations in the quark-gluon plasma
Genina A
(2019)
The distinct stellar metallicity populations of simulated Local Group dwarfs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Garzilli A
(2019)
The Lyman-a forest as a diagnostic of the nature of the dark matter
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Garzilli A
(2020)
Measuring the temperature and profiles of Ly a absorbers
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Garratt-Smithson L
(2019)
Galactic chimney sweeping: the effect of 'gradual' stellar feedback mechanisms on the evolution of dwarf galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gargiulo I
(2019)
The prevalence of pseudo-bulges in the Auriga simulations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ganeshaiah Veena P
(2019)
The Cosmic Ballet II: spin alignment of galaxies and haloes with large-scale filaments in the EAGLE simulation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Friske J
(2019)
More than just a wrinkle: a wave-like pattern in Ug versus Lz from Gaia data
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Fossati M
(2019)
The MUSE Ultra Deep Field (MUDF). II. Survey design and the gaseous properties of galaxy groups at 0.5 < z < 1.5
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Fletcher M
(2019)
Giant planets and brown dwarfs on wide orbits: a code comparison project
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Fattahi A
(2019)
The origin of galactic metal-rich stellar halo components with highly eccentric orbits
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Elson E
(2023)
Measurements of the angular momentum-mass relations in the Simba simulation
in New Astronomy
Eilers A
(2019)
Anomaly in the Opacity of the Post-reionization Intergalactic Medium in the Lya and Lyß Forest
in The Astrophysical Journal
Edelmann P
(2019)
Three-dimensional Simulations of Massive Stars. I. Wave Generation and Propagation
in The Astrophysical Journal
Dumitru S
(2019)
Predictions and sensitivity forecasts for reionization-era [C ii ] line intensity mapping
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Duguid C
(2019)
Tidal flows with convection: frequency-dependence of the effective viscosity and evidence for anti-dissipation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Du M
(2019)
The Formation of Compact Elliptical Galaxies in the Vicinity of a Massive Galaxy: The Role of Ram-pressure Confinement
in The Astrophysical Journal
Dowdall R
(2019)
Neutral B -meson mixing from full lattice QCD at the physical point
in Physical Review D
Dobbs C
(2019)
Comparing the properties of GMCs in M33 from simulations and observations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Digby R
(2019)
The star formation histories of dwarf galaxies in Local Group cosmological simulations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
DeGraf C
(2020)
Cosmological simulations of massive black hole seeds: predictions for next-generation electromagnetic and gravitational wave observations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Debras F
(2019)
Eigenvectors, Circulation, and Linear Instabilities for Planetary Science in 3 Dimensions (ECLIPS3D)
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Debras F
(2019)
Acceleration of superrotation in simulated hot Jupiter atmospheres
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Deason A
(2019)
The total stellar halo mass of the Milky Way
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Deason A
(2019)
The local high-velocity tail and the Galactic escape speed
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Davé R
(2019)
simba: Cosmological simulations with black hole growth and feedback
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Davoudi Z
(2019)
Theoretical aspects of quantum electrodynamics in a finite volume with periodic boundary conditions
in Physical Review D
Davis T
(2019)
Evolution of the cold gas properties of simulated post-starburst galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Davies J
(2019)
The gas fractions of dark matter haloes hosting simulated ~L? galaxies are governed by the feedback history of their black holes
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Davies C
(2019)
The self-similarity of weak lensing peaks
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society