DiRAC 2.5 Operations 2017-2020
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 DiRAC-2.5 project builds on the success of the DiRAC HPC facility and will provide the resources needed
to support cutting edge research during 2017 in all areas of science supported by STFC.
In addition to the existing DiRAC-2 services, from April 2017 DiRAC-2.5 will provide:
1) A factor 2 increase in the computational power of the DiRAC supercomputer at the University of Durham, which is designed for simulations requiring large amounts of computer memory. The enhanced system will be used to:
(i) simulate the merger of pairs of black holes which generate gravitational waves such as those recently discovered by the LIGO consortium;
(ii) perform the most realistic simulations to date of the formation and evolution of galaxies in the Universe
(iii) carry out detailed simulations of the interior of the sun and of planetary interiors.
2) A new High Performance Computer at Cambridge whose particular architecture is well suited to the theoretical
problems that we want to tackle that utilise large amounts of data, either as input or
being generated at intermediate stages of our calculations. Two key challenges
that we will tackle are those of
(i) improving our understanding of the Milky Way through analysis of new data from the European
Space Agency's GAIA satellite and
(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.
3) An additional 3500 compute cores on the DiRAC Complexity supercomputer at Leicester which will make it possible to
carry out simulations of some of the most complex physical situation in the Universe. These include:
(i) the formation of stars in clusters - for the first time it will be possible to follow the formation of stars many times more massive than the sun;
(ii) the accretion of gas onto supermassive black holes, the most efficient means of extracting energy from matter and the engine
which drives galaxy formation and evolution.
4) A team of three research software engineers who will help DiRAC researchers to ensure their scientific codes to extract
the best possible performance from the hardware components of the DiRAC clusters. These highly skilled programmers will
increase the effective computational power of the DiRAC facility during 2017.
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 DiRAC-2.5 project builds on the success of the DiRAC HPC facility and will provide the resources needed
to support cutting edge research during 2017 in all areas of science supported by STFC.
In addition to the existing DiRAC-2 services, from April 2017 DiRAC-2.5 will provide:
1) A factor 2 increase in the computational power of the DiRAC supercomputer at the University of Durham, which is designed for simulations requiring large amounts of computer memory. The enhanced system will be used to:
(i) simulate the merger of pairs of black holes which generate gravitational waves such as those recently discovered by the LIGO consortium;
(ii) perform the most realistic simulations to date of the formation and evolution of galaxies in the Universe
(iii) carry out detailed simulations of the interior of the sun and of planetary interiors.
2) A new High Performance Computer at Cambridge whose particular architecture is well suited to the theoretical
problems that we want to tackle that utilise large amounts of data, either as input or
being generated at intermediate stages of our calculations. Two key challenges
that we will tackle are those of
(i) improving our understanding of the Milky Way through analysis of new data from the European
Space Agency's GAIA satellite and
(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.
3) An additional 3500 compute cores on the DiRAC Complexity supercomputer at Leicester which will make it possible to
carry out simulations of some of the most complex physical situation in the Universe. These include:
(i) the formation of stars in clusters - for the first time it will be possible to follow the formation of stars many times more massive than the sun;
(ii) the accretion of gas onto supermassive black holes, the most efficient means of extracting energy from matter and the engine
which drives galaxy formation and evolution.
4) A team of three research software engineers who will help DiRAC researchers to ensure their scientific codes to extract
the best possible performance from the hardware components of the DiRAC clusters. These highly skilled programmers will
increase the effective computational power of the DiRAC facility during 2017.
Planned Impact
The expected impact of the DiRAC 2.5 HPC facility is fully described in the attached pathways to impact document and includes:
1) Disseminating best practice in High Performance Computing software engineering throughout the theoretical Particle Physics, Astronomy and Nuclear physics communities in the UK as well as to industry partners.
2) Working on co-design projects with industry partners to improve future generations of hardware and software.
3) Development of new techniques in the area of High Performance Data Analytics which will benefit industry partners and researchers in other fields such as biomedicine, biology, engineering, economics and social science, and the natural environment who can use this new technology to improve research outcomes in their areas.
4) Share best practice on the design and operation of distributed HPC facilities with UK National e-Infrastructure partners.
5) Training of the next generation of research scientists of physical scientists to tackle problems effectively on state-of-the-art of High Performance Computing facilities. Such skills are much in demand from high-tech industry.
6) Engagement with the general public to promote interest in science, and to explain how our ability to solve complex problems using the latest computer technology leads to new scientific capabilities/insights. Engagement of this kind also naturally encourages the uptake of STEM subjects in schools.
1) Disseminating best practice in High Performance Computing software engineering throughout the theoretical Particle Physics, Astronomy and Nuclear physics communities in the UK as well as to industry partners.
2) Working on co-design projects with industry partners to improve future generations of hardware and software.
3) Development of new techniques in the area of High Performance Data Analytics which will benefit industry partners and researchers in other fields such as biomedicine, biology, engineering, economics and social science, and the natural environment who can use this new technology to improve research outcomes in their areas.
4) Share best practice on the design and operation of distributed HPC facilities with UK National e-Infrastructure partners.
5) Training of the next generation of research scientists of physical scientists to tackle problems effectively on state-of-the-art of High Performance Computing facilities. Such skills are much in demand from high-tech industry.
6) Engagement with the general public to promote interest in science, and to explain how our ability to solve complex problems using the latest computer technology leads to new scientific capabilities/insights. Engagement of this kind also naturally encourages the uptake of STEM subjects in schools.
Organisations
Publications
Glowacki M
(2021)
The redshift evolution of the baryonic Tully-Fisher relation in SIMBA
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Glowacki M
(2020)
The baryonic Tully-Fisher relation in the simba simulation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Goater A
(2024)
EDGE: The direct link between mass growth history and the extended stellar haloes of the faintest dwarf galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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
Golightly E
(2019)
On the Diversity of Fallback Rates from Tidal Disruption Events with Accurate Stellar Structure
in The Astrophysical Journal
Golightly E
(2019)
Tidal Disruption Events: The Role of Stellar Spin
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gonzalez-Perez V
(2020)
Do model emission line galaxies live in filaments at z ~ 1?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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
Gourgouliatos K
(2019)
Nonaxisymmetric Hall instability: A key to understanding magnetars
in Physical Review Research
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
(2018)
Relativistic centrifugal instability
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Goyal J
(2020)
A library of self-consistent simulated exoplanet atmospheres
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
Grand R
(2021)
Determining the full satellite population of a Milky Way-mass halo in a highly resolved cosmological hydrodynamic simulation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Grand R
(2020)
The biggest splash
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
Gratton S
(2020)
Understanding parameter differences between analyses employing nested data subsets
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gray M
(2019)
Maser Flare Simulations from Oblate and Prolate Clouds
Gray M
(2019)
Maser flare simulations from oblate and prolate clouds
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gray M
(2020)
Analysis of methanol maser flares in G107.298+5.63 and S255-NIRS3
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Grebel E
(2020)
The mass fraction of halo stars contributed by the disruption of globular clusters in the E-MOSAICS simulations
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
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
Griffin A
(2020)
AGNs at the cosmic dawn: predictions for future surveys from a ?CDM cosmological model
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Grisdale K
(2019)
On the observed diversity of star formation efficiencies in Giant Molecular Clouds
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Grisdale K
(2021)
Physical properties and scaling relations of molecular clouds: the impact of star formation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gronow S
(2021)
Double detonations of sub-M Ch CO white dwarfs: variations in Type Ia supernovae due to different core and He shell masses
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Gronow S
(2021)
Metallicity-dependent nucleosynthetic yields of Type Ia supernovae originating from double detonations of sub- M Ch white dwarfs
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Gronow S
(2020)
SNe Ia from double detonations: Impact of core-shell mixing on the carbon ignition mechanism
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Grove C
(2022)
The DESI N -body simulation project - I. Testing the robustness of simulations for the DESI dark time survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gu Q
(2022)
The spatial distribution of satellites in galaxy clusters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Guandalin C
(2021)
Observing relativistic features in large-scale structure surveys - I. Multipoles of the power spectrum
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Guelpers V
(2019)
Isospin breaking corrections to the HVP at the physical point
Guervilly C
(2019)
Turbulent convective length scale in planetary cores.
in Nature
Guilluy G
(2020)
ARES IV: Probing the Atmospheres of the Two Warm Small Planets HD 106315c and HD 3167c with the HST/WFC3 Camera
in The Astronomical Journal
Guo Y
(2020)
Metal Enrichment in the Circumgalactic Medium and Ly a Halos around Quasars at z ~ 3
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gupta P
(2022)
A study of global magnetic helicity in self-consistent spherical dynamos
in Geophysical & Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Gurung-López S
(2019)
Lya emitters in a cosmological volume II: the impact of the intergalactic medium
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gurung-López S
(2019)
Lya emitters in a cosmological volume - I. The impact of radiative transfer
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gurung-López S
(2021)
Determining the systemic redshift of Lyman a emitters with neural networks and improving the measured large-scale clustering
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gómez J
(2022)
Halo merger tree comparison: impact on galaxy formation models
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gómez-Guijarro C
(2020)
How primordial magnetic fields shrink galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gülpers V.
(2018)
Isospin breaking corrections to the HVP at the physical point
in Proceedings of Science
| Description | Many new discoveries about the formation and evolution of galaxies, star formation and planet formation have been made possible by this award. |
| Exploitation Route | Many international collaborative projects are supported by the HPC resources provided by DiRAC. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Healthcare,Transport |
| URL | http://www.dirac.ac.uk |