The DiRAC 2.5x 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 more than 250 papers annually in international, peer-reviewed journals. However, the DiRAC2 hardware is now at least 5 years old and is therefore at significant risk of failure. The loss of any one of the DiRAC2 services
would have a potentially disastrous impact on the research communities which rely on it to deliver their scientific research. The main
purpose of the requested funding for the DiRAC2.5x project is to replace the ageing DiRAC2 hardware at Durham, Edinburgh and Leicester
while taking advantage of recent hardware advances to provide some new capabilities (e.g. i/o acceleration using flash storage) as prototypes for
the proposed DiRAC3 services.
DiRAC2.5x builds on the success of the DiRAC HPC facility and will provide the resources needed to support cutting-edge research
during 2018 in all areas of science supported by STFC. While the funding is required to "keep the lights on", 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 which 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 formation and 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 stars many times more massive than the sun.
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 more than 250 papers annually in international, peer-reviewed journals. However, the DiRAC2 hardware is now at least 5 years old and is therefore at significant risk of failure. The loss of any one of the DiRAC2 services
would have a potentially disastrous impact on the research communities which rely on it to deliver their scientific research. The main
purpose of the requested funding for the DiRAC2.5x project is to replace the ageing DiRAC2 hardware at Durham, Edinburgh and Leicester
while taking advantage of recent hardware advances to provide some new capabilities (e.g. i/o acceleration using flash storage) as prototypes for
the proposed DiRAC3 services.
DiRAC2.5x builds on the success of the DiRAC HPC facility and will provide the resources needed to support cutting-edge research
during 2018 in all areas of science supported by STFC. While the funding is required to "keep the lights on", 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 which 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 formation and 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 stars many times more massive than the sun.
Planned Impact
The anticipated impact of the DiRAC2.5x 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 DiRAC2.5x 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 DiRAC2.5x, including our strategic goals and key performance indicators.
our engagements with industry. Each service provider for DiRAC2.5x 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 DiRAC2.5x, including our strategic goals and key performance indicators.
Organisations
- University of Leicester (Lead Research Organisation)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER (Collaboration)
- Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) (Collaboration)
- Saclay Nuclear Research Centre (Collaboration)
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) (Collaboration)
- Microsoft Research (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- StackHPC Limited (Project Partner)
Publications
Iršic V
(2016)
The Lyman-alpha forest power spectrum from the XQ-100 Legacy Survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Meiksin A
(2017)
Gas around galaxy haloes - III: hydrogen absorption signatures around galaxies and QSOs in the Sherwood simulation suite
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Smith Matthew C.
(2017)
Supernova feedback in numerical simulations of galaxy formation: separating physics from numerics
in ArXiv e-prints
Shen S
(2017)
Chemical enrichment of stars due to accretion from the ISM during the Galaxy's assembly
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Chardin J
(2017)
Large-scale opacity fluctuations in the Lya forest: evidence for QSOs dominating the ionizing UV background at z ~ 5.5-6?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bolton J
(2017)
The Sherwood simulation suite: overview and data comparisons with the Lyman a forest at redshifts 2 = z = 5
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Viel M
(2017)
Diagnosing galactic feedback with line broadening in the low redshift Lyman-a forest
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Gourgouliatos K
(2017)
Reconfinement and loss of stability in jets from active galactic nuclei
in Nature Astronomy
Iršic V
(2017)
New constraints on the free-streaming of warm dark matter from intermediate and small scale Lyman- a forest data
in Physical Review D
Fiacconi Davide
(2017)
Galaxy formation simulations with spinning black holes: method and implementation
in ArXiv e-prints
Gourgouliatos K
(2017)
Magnetic Axis Drift and Magnetic Spot Formation in Neutron Stars with Toroidal Fields
in The Astrophysical Journal
Arthur J
(2017)
nIFTy galaxy cluster simulations - V. Investigation of the cluster infall region
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Costa Tiago
(2017)
Quenching star formation with quasar outflows launched by trapped IR radiation
in ArXiv e-prints
Nasir F
(2017)
The effect of stellar and AGN feedback on the low-redshift Lyman a forest in the Sherwood simulation suite
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rorai A
(2017)
Exploring the thermal state of the low-density intergalactic medium at z = 3 with an ultrahigh signal-to-noise QSO spectrum
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bourne M
(2017)
AGN jet feedback on a moving mesh: cocoon inflation, gas flows and turbulence
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Iršic V
(2017)
First Constraints on Fuzzy Dark Matter from Lyman-a Forest Data and Hydrodynamical Simulations.
in Physical review letters
Hu Shaoran
(2017)
Impact of Cosmological Satellites on Stellar Discs: Dissecting One Satellite at a Time
in ArXiv e-prints
Kulkarni G
(2017)
Large 21-cm signals from AGN-dominated reionization
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Idini A
(2017)
Ab Initio Optical Potentials and Nucleon Scattering on Medium Mass Nuclei
in Acta Physica Polonica B
Kimm T
(2017)
Feedback-regulated star formation and escape of LyC photons from mini-haloes during reionisation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
DeGraf C
(2017)
Black hole clustering and duty cycles in the Illustris simulation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Chisari N
(2018)
The impact of baryons on the matter power spectrum from the Horizon-AGN cosmological hydrodynamical simulation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rocco N
(2018)
Inclusive electron-nucleus cross section within the self-consistent Green's function approach
in Physical Review C
Pontzen A
(2018)
TANGOS: The Agile Numerical Galaxy Organization System
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Hu S
(2018)
Impact of cosmological satellites on stellar discs: dissecting one satelliteat a time
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Pittard J
(2018)
Colliding stellar winds structure and X-ray emission
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Welker C
(2018)
Caught in the rhythm I. How satellites settle into a plane around their central galaxy
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Henden N
(2018)
The FABLE simulations: a feedback model for galaxies, groups, and clusters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hands T
(2018)
Breaking mean-motion resonances during Type I planet migration
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Martin-Alvarez S
(2018)
A three-phase amplification of the cosmic magnetic field in galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kimm T
(2018)
Impact of Lyman alpha pressure on metal-poor dwarf galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
McNally C
(2018)
Low-mass planet migration in magnetically torqued dead zones - II. Flow-locked and runaway migration, and a torque prescription
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Nixon C
(2018)
The origin of the structure of large-scale magnetic fields in disc galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wareing C
(2018)
A new mechanical stellar wind feedback model for the Rosette Nebula
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gourgouliatos K
(2018)
Relativistic centrifugal instability
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Katz Harley
(2018)
A Census of the LyC Photons that Form the UV Background During Reionization
in ArXiv e-prints
Wurster J
(2018)
Hall effect-driven formation of gravitationally unstable discs in magnetized molecular cloud cores
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Costa T
(2018)
Driving gas shells with radiation pressure on dust in radiation-hydrodynamic simulations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Garratt-Smithson L
(2018)
Does slow and steady win the race? Investigating feedback processes in giant molecular clouds
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Nealon R
(2018)
Warping a protoplanetary disc with a planet on an inclined orbit
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Martin G
(2018)
Normal black holes in bulge-less galaxies: the largely quiescent, merger-free growth of black holes over cosmic time
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
McIlroy C
(2018)
Doubly magic nuclei from lattice QCD forces at M PS = 469 MeV / c 2
in Physical Review C
McNally Colin P.
(2018)
Low mass planet migration in Hall-affected disks
in arXiv e-prints
Schönrich R
(2018)
Warp, waves, and wrinkles in the Milky Way
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Atar L
(2018)
Quasifree (p, 2p) Reactions on Oxygen Isotopes: Observation of Isospin Independence of the Reduced Single-Particle Strength.
in Physical review letters
Humphries R
(2018)
Changes in the metallicity of gas giant planets due to pebble accretion
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
| Description | Many new discoveries about the formation and evolution of galaxies, star formation, planet formation have been made possible by the award. |
| Exploitation Route | Many international collaborative projects are supported by the HPC resources provided by DiRAC. |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education |
| URL | http://www.dirac.ac.uk |
| Description | Major co-design project with Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, including partnership in the HPE/Arm/Suse Catalyst UK programme. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
| Sector | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Description | DiRAC 2.5x Project Office 2017-2020 |
| Amount | £300,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2018 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Title | Citation analysys and Impact |
| Description | Use of IT to determineacademic impact of eInfrastructure |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Understood emerging trends in DiRAC Science and helped decide the scale and type of IT investments and direct us to develop new technologies |
| URL | http://www.dirac.ac.uk |
| Description | Co-design project with Hewlett Packard Enterprise |
| Organisation | Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Technical support and operations costs for running the hardware. Research workflows to test the system performance, and investment of academic time and software engineering time to optimise code for new hardware. Project will explore suitability of hardware for DiRAC workflows and provide feedback to HPE. |
| Collaborator Contribution | In-kind provision of research computing hardware. Value is commercially confidential. |
| Impact | As this collaboration is about to commence, there are no outcomes to report at this point. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | DiRAC |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Department | Distributed Research Utilising Advanced Computing |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I am the PI for two research grants for the procurement and running of the Complexity@DiRAC High Performance Computing cluster at the University of Leicester. This cluster is now in active operation as a national HPC facility. |
| Collaborator Contribution | DiRAC is the facility which provides HPC resources for the theoretical astrophysics and particle physics communities within STFC. |
| Impact | The establishment and running of a new HPC cluster at the University of Leicester as part of the DiRAC national facility. |
| Start Year | 2011 |
| Description | STFC Centres for Doctoral Training in Data Intensive Science |
| Organisation | University of Leicester |
| Department | STFC DiRAC Complexity Cluster (HPC Facility Leicester) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Support for STFC Centres for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Data Intensive Science - DiRAC is a partner in five of the eight of the newly established STFC CDTs, and is actively engaged with them in developing industrial partnerships. DiRAC is also offering placements to CDT students interested in Research Software Engineering roles. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Students to work on interesting technical problems for DiRAC |
| Impact | This is the first year |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Surrey-Saclay |
| Organisation | Saclay Nuclear Research Centre |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Provided codes and know-how to develop GF Gorkov formalism and implementation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Help spreading and advertise my research |
| Impact | Presentation of preliminary results at conference. Grant still ongoing. Results being written up. Output will be first ab-initio calculation of fully open shells. |
| Start Year | 2010 |