DiRAC 2.5 Operations 2017-2020
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Institute of 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.
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
Vandenbroucke B
(2020)
Infrared luminosity functions and dust mass functions in the EAGLE simulation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Creci G
(2020)
Evolution of black hole shadows from superradiance
in Physical Review D
Van Daalen M
(2020)
Exploring the effects of galaxy formation on matter clustering through a library of simulation power spectra
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Allanson O
(2020)
Particle-in-Cell Experiments Examine Electron Diffusion by Whistler-Mode Waves: 2. Quasi-Linear and Nonlinear Dynamics
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Rosca-Mead R
(2020)
Structure of Neutron Stars in Massive Scalar-Tensor Gravity
Brown S
(2020)
Connecting the structure of dark matter haloes to the primordial power spectrum
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rosca-Mead R
(2020)
Structure of Neutron Stars in Massive Scalar-Tensor Gravity
in Symmetry
Dutta R
(2020)
MUSE Analysis of Gas around Galaxies (MAGG) - II: metal-enriched halo gas around z ~ 1 galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Trayford J
(2020)
Massive low-surface-brightness galaxies in the eagle simulation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Sergeev D
(2020)
Atmospheric Convection Plays a Key Role in the Climate of Tidally Locked Terrestrial Exoplanets: Insights from High-resolution Simulations
in The Astrophysical Journal
Porth L
(2020)
Fast estimation of aperture mass statistics - I. Aperture mass variance and an application to the CFHTLenS data
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wurster J
(2020)
Non-ideal magnetohydrodynamics versus turbulence II: Which is the dominant process in stellar core formation?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Yurchenko S
(2020)
ExoMol line lists -- XXXIX. Ro-vibrational molecular line list for CO$_2$
McAlpine S
(2020)
Galaxy mergers in eagle do not induce a significant amount of black hole growth yet do increase the rate of luminous AGN
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Read P
(2020)
Baroclinic and barotropic instabilities in planetary atmospheres: energetics, equilibration and adjustment
in Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics
Rouillard A
(2020)
Models and data analysis tools for the Solar Orbiter mission
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Christiansen J
(2020)
Jet feedback and the photon underproduction crisis in simba
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Colò G
(2020)
Isoscalar monopole and quadrupole modes in Mo isotopes: Microscopic analysis
in Physics Letters B
Rosca-Mead R
(2020)
Core collapse in massive scalar-tensor gravity
in Physical Review D
Bamber J
(2020)
Growth of accretion driven scalar hair around Kerr black holes
Campargue A
(2020)
Detection of electric-quadrupole transitions in water vapour near 5.4 and 2.5 µm.
in Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP
Fumagalli M
(2020)
Detecting neutral hydrogen at z ? 3 in large spectroscopic surveys of quasars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Campargue A
(2020)
Observation of electric-quadrupole infrared transitions in water vapor
in Physical Review Research
Harrison J
(2020)
B c ? J / ? form factors for the full q 2 range from lattice QCD
in Physical Review D
Font A
(2020)
The artemis simulations: stellar haloes of Milky Way-mass galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Howson T
(2020)
Phase mixing and wave heating in a complex coronal plasma
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Coughlin E
(2020)
Variability in Short Gamma-Ray Bursts: Gravitationally Unstable Tidal Tails
in The Astrophysical Journal
Mitchell P
(2020)
Galactic inflow and wind recycling rates in the eagle simulations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Pagano P
(2020)
Hydrogen non-equilibrium ionisation effects in coronal mass ejections
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Kobayashi C
(2020)
The Origin of Elements from Carbon to Uranium
in The Astrophysical Journal
Kukstas E
(2020)
Environment from cross-correlations: connecting hot gas and the quenching of galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rey M
(2020)
EDGE: from quiescent to gas-rich to star-forming low-mass dwarf galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lovell M
(2020)
Toward a General Parameterization of the Warm Dark Matter Halo Mass Function
in The Astrophysical Journal
McCarthy I
(2020)
The imprint of dark subhaloes on the circumgalactic medium
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Navarro J
(2020)
The edge of the Galaxy
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wang J
(2020)
Universal structure of dark matter haloes over a mass range of 20 orders of magnitude.
in Nature
Dobbs C
(2020)
The formation of young massive clusters by colliding flows
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Buie E
(2020)
Interpreting Observations of Absorption Lines in the Circumgalactic Medium with a Turbulent Medium
in The Astrophysical Journal
Hughes M
(2020)
The [a/Fe]-[Fe/H] relation in the E-MOSAICS simulations: its connection to the birth place of globular clusters and the fraction of globular cluster field stars in the bulge
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cooper L
(2020)
$B_c \to B_{s(d)}$ form factors from lattice QCD
Figueras P
(2020)
Gravitational Collapse in Cubic Horndeski Theories
Salvioni G
(2020)
Model nuclear energy density functionals derived from ab initio calculations
in Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics
Wang Y
(2020)
Iterative removal of redshift-space distortions from galaxy clustering
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society