DiRAC: Memory Intensive 2.5x
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 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.
The DiRAC-2.5x project builds on the success of the DiRAC-2.5 HPC facility and will provide the resources needed
to support cutting edge research starting from 1/4/2018 in all areas of science supported by STFC.
Specifically the funding sort by Durham will allow:
A factor 2 increase in the size of calculation that can be run at Durham, and a 50% increase in the
available computing power (assuming the current DiRAC-2.5 systems continue to operate at the current level).
The usage of the system will be decided by the DiRAC Resource Allocation Committee primarily,
but it is envisaged that the enhanced system will be used for very large calculations, for example, 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.
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.
The DiRAC-2.5x project builds on the success of the DiRAC-2.5 HPC facility and will provide the resources needed
to support cutting edge research starting from 1/4/2018 in all areas of science supported by STFC.
Specifically the funding sort by Durham will allow:
A factor 2 increase in the size of calculation that can be run at Durham, and a 50% increase in the
available computing power (assuming the current DiRAC-2.5 systems continue to operate at the current level).
The usage of the system will be decided by the DiRAC Resource Allocation Committee primarily,
but it is envisaged that the enhanced system will be used for very large calculations, for example, 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.
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 the
lead Je-S form from Leicester, describes the overall industrial strategy for DiRAC2.5x,
including our strategic goals and key performance indicators.
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 the
lead Je-S form from Leicester, describes the overall industrial strategy for DiRAC2.5x,
including our strategic goals and key performance indicators.
Organisations
Publications
Rizzuti F
(2022)
3D hydrodynamics simulations of massive stars with the PROMPI code
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Igoshev A
(2021)
3D Magnetothermal Simulations of Tangled Crustal Magnetic Field in Central Compact Objects
in The Astrophysical Journal
Rizzuti F
(2023)
3D stellar evolution: hydrodynamic simulations of a complete burning phase in a massive star
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Katz H
(2018)
A Census of the LyC photons that form the UV background during reionization
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gaikwad P
(2021)
A consistent and robust measurement of the thermal state of the IGM at 2 = z = 4 from a large sample of Ly a forest spectra: evidence for late and rapid He ii reionization
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Johnston C
(2021)
A fast multi-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic formulation of the transition region adaptive conduction (TRAC) method
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Mitchell M
(2021)
A general framework for unbiased tests of gravity using galaxy clusters
Mitchell M
(2021)
A general framework to test gravity using galaxy clusters - V. A self-consistent pipeline for unbiased constraints of f ( R ) gravity
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mitchell M
(2022)
A general framework to test gravity using galaxy clusters - VI. Realistic galaxy formation simulations to study clusters in modified gravity
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mitchell M
(2019)
A general framework to test gravity using galaxy clusters II: A universal model for the halo concentration in f(R) gravity
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mitchell M
(2021)
A general framework to test gravity using galaxy clusters III: observable-mass scaling relations in f ( R ) gravity
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Richings J
(2021)
A high-resolution cosmological simulation of a strong gravitational lens
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Richings J
(2020)
A high-resolution cosmological simulation of a strong gravitational lens
Smith A
(2022)
A light-cone catalogue from the Millennium-XXL simulation: improved spatial interpolation and colour distributions for the DESI BGS
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Koudmani S
(2021)
A little FABLE: exploring AGN feedback in dwarf galaxies with cosmological simulations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Pezzella M
(2021)
A method for calculating temperature-dependent photodissociation cross sections and rates.
in Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP
Walker J
(2023)
A mixed-method approach to determining contact matrices in the Cox's Bazar refugee settlement.
in Royal Society open science
Armijo J
(2023)
A new marked correlation function scheme for testing gravity
Wareing C
(2018)
A new mechanical stellar wind feedback model for the Rosette Nebula
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Leo M
(2018)
A new smooth- k space filter approach to calculate halo abundances
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Pagano P
(2019)
A New Space Weather Tool for Identifying Eruptive Active Regions
Pagano P
(2019)
A New Space Weather Tool for Identifying Eruptive Active Regions
in The Astrophysical Journal
Pagano P
(2018)
A new technique for observationally derived boundary conditions for space weather
in Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate
Armijo J
(2024)
A new test of gravity - II. Application of marked correlation functions to luminous red galaxy samples
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Fu B
(2022)
A predictive and testable unified theory of fermion masses, mixing and leptogenesis
in Journal of High Energy Physics
Pagano P
(2019)
A Prospective New Diagnostic Technique for Distinguishing Eruptive and Noneruptive Active Regions
in The Astrophysical Journal
Teodoro L
(2023)
A Recent Impact Origin of Saturn's Rings and Mid-sized Moons
in The Astrophysical Journal
Teodoro L
(2023)
A recent impact origin of Saturn's rings and mid-sized moons
Icaza-Lizaola M
(2023)
A sparse regression approach for populating dark matter haloes and subhaloes with galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Icaza-Lizaola M
(2022)
A sparse regression approach for populating dark matter halos and subhalos with galaxies
Icaza-Lizaola M
(2021)
A sparse regression approach to modelling the relation between galaxy stellar masses and their host haloes
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Chaikin E
(2023)
A thermal-kinetic subgrid model for supernova feedback in simulations of galaxy formation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Nixon C
(2021)
Accretion discs with non-zero central torque
in New Astronomy
Huško F
(2023)
Active galactic nuclei jets simulated with smoothed particle hydrodynamics
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
| Description | See Dirac annual report https://dirac.ac.uk |
| Exploitation Route | See Dirac annual report https://dirac.ac.uk |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education |
| URL | https://dirac.ac.uk |