DiRAC-2.5 DC - Operations 2017-2020

天文学、核物理学和粒子物理学领域的物理学家都致力于在非常基本的层面上理解宇宙是如何运作的。他们工作的距离尺度相差50个数量级，从原子核深处的大型强子对撞机实验探测到的最小距离，到在太空中发现的最大规模的星系团。然而，科学挑战通过以下问题联系在一起：宇宙是如何开始的，它是如何演化的？宇宙的基本组成部分和结构是什么，它们是如何相互作用的？进步需要新的天文观测和实验数据，但也需要新的理论见解。对理论的理解越来越多地来自大规模的计算，这些计算使我们能够非常准确地用数据来面对我们的理论的后果，或者允许我们详细地询问数据，以提取对我们的理论有影响的信息。这些计算测试了我们拥有的最快的计算机，并推动了这一领域的技术边界。它们还为培训学生学习最先进的代码优化、数据挖掘和可视化技术提供了一个极好的环境。DiRAC-2.5项目建立在DiRAC HPC设施的成功基础上，并将提供所需的资源，以支持2017年由STFC支持的所有科学领域的尖端研究。具体地说，Durham的资金分类将允许：Durham大学的DIRAC超级计算机的计算能力增加2倍，这是为需要大量计算机内存的模拟而设计的。该系统的用途将主要由DIRAC资源分配委员会决定，但预计增强型系统将用于例如：(1)模拟产生引力波的黑洞对的合并，如LIGO财团最近发现的那些；(2)对宇宙中星系的形成和演化进行迄今最逼真的模拟；(3)对太阳内部和行星内部进行详细模拟。

Physicists across the astronomy, nuclear and particle physics communities are focussedon understanding how the Universe works at a very fundamental level. The distance scaleswith which they work vary by 50 orders of magnitude from the smallest distances probedby experiments at the Large Hadron Collider, deep within the atomicnucleus, 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 alsonew theoretical insights. Theoretical understanding comes increasingly from large-scalecomputations that allow us to confront the consequences of our theories very accuratelywith the data or allow us to interrogate the data in detail to extract information that hasimpact on our theories. These computations test the fastest computers that we have andpush the boundaries of technology in this sector. They also provide an excellentenvironment for training students in state-of-the-art techniques for code optimisation anddata mining and visualisation.The DiRAC-2.5 project builds on the success of the DiRAC HPC facility and will provide the resources neededto support cutting edge research during 2017 in all areas of science supported by STFC.Specifically the funding sort by Durham will allow: A factor 2 increase in the computational power of the DiRAC supercomputer at the University of Durham, which isdesigned for simulations requiring large amounts of computer memory. The usage of the system will be decided bythe DiRAC Resource Allocation Committee primarily, but it is envisaged that the enhanced system will be used, forexample, to:(i) simulate the merger of pairs of black holes which generate gravitational waves such as those recently discovered by theLIGO 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.