DiRAC: Memory Intensive 2.5y
Lead Research Organisation:
Durham University
Department Name: Physics
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 and 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 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.
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 and 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 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 the lead (Leicester) proposal describes the overall industrial strategy for the DiRAC facility, including our strategic goals and key performance indicators.
Organisations
Publications
Santos-Santos I
(2022)
Satellite mass functions and the faint end of the galaxy mass-halo mass relation in LCDM
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Santos-Santos I
(2021)
Magellanic satellites in ?CDM cosmological hydrodynamical simulations of the Local Group
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Santos-Santos I
(2019)
Baryonic clues to the puzzling diversity of dwarf galaxy rotation curves
Santos-Santos I
(2022)
The Tucana dwarf spheroidal: a distant backsplash galaxy of M31?
Ryczanowski D
(2020)
What does strong gravitational lensing? The mass and redshift distribution of high-magnification lenses
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ruan C
(2022)
Towards an accurate model of small-scale redshift-space distortions in modified gravity
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ruan C
(2024)
An emulator-based halo model in modified gravity - I. The halo concentration-mass relation and density profile
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rowan C
(2024)
Black hole binaries in AGN accretion discs - II. Gas effects on black hole satellite scatterings
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Roper W
(2022)
First Light And Reionisation Epoch Simulations ( flares ) - IV. The size evolution of galaxies at z = 5
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Roper W
(2023)
First light and reionization epoch simulations (FLARES) IX: the physical mechanisms driving compact galaxy formation and evolution
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Roper W
(2020)
MEGA: Merger graphs of structure formation
Roper F
(2023)
The diversity of rotation curves of simulated galaxies with cusps and cores
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rodríguez Montero F
(2019)
Mergers, starbursts, and quenching in the simba simulation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Robson D
(2023)
Redshift evolution of galaxy group X-ray properties in the Simba simulations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Robson D
(2023)
Redshift evolution of galaxy group X-ray properties in the Simba simulations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Robson D
(2020)
X-ray emission from hot gas in galaxy groups and clusters in simba
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Robson D
(2021)
Redshift Evolution of Galaxy Group X-ray Properties in Simba
Robertson A
(2023)
Why weak lensing cluster shapes are insensitive to self-interacting dark matter
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Robertson A
(2021)
The galaxy-galaxy strong lensing cross-sections of simulated ?CDM galaxy clusters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Richings J
(2020)
A high-resolution cosmological simulation of a strong gravitational lens
Richings J
(2021)
A high-resolution cosmological simulation of a strong gravitational lens
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Richings A
(2021)
Unravelling the physics of multiphase AGN winds through emission line tracers
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Richings A
(2022)
The effects of local stellar radiation and dust depletion on non-equilibrium interstellar chemistry
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rey M
(2023)
Boosting galactic outflows with enhanced resolution
Reid J
(2021)
Linking computational models to follow the evolution of heated coronal plasma
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Reeves A
(2023)
Constraining quenching time-scales in galaxy clusters by forward-modelling stellar ages and quiescent fractions in projected phase space
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ramírez-Galeano L
(2022)
Why most molecular clouds are gravitationally dominated
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ramírez-Galeano L
(2022)
Why most molecular clouds are gravitationally dominated
Raj A
(2021)
Disk Tearing: Implications for Black Hole Accretion and AGN Variability
in The Astrophysical Journal
Raj A
(2021)
Disk Tearing: Numerical Investigation of Warped Disk Instability
in The Astrophysical Journal
Ragusa E
(2021)
Circumbinary and circumstellar discs around the eccentric binary IRAS 04158+2805 - a testbed for binary-disc interaction
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Radia M
(2021)
Anomalies in the gravitational recoil of eccentric black-hole mergers with unequal mass ratios
in Physical Review D
Quera-Bofarull A
(2023)
qwind 3: UV line-driven accretion disc wind models for AGN feedback
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Quera-Bofarull A
(2021)
Qwind3: UV line-driven accretion disc wind models for AGN feedback
Prole L
(2022)
Fragmentation-induced starvation in Population III star formation: a resolution study
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Prole L
(2023)
From dark matter halos to pre-stellar cores: high resolution follow-up of cosmological Lyman-Werner simulations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Prole L
(2022)
Primordial magnetic fields in Population III star formation: a magnetized resolution study
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society