The project cycle has been significantly shortened! Scientists use supercomputing to assist in laser fusion research

Recently, the Laser Energy Laboratory (LLE) at the University of Rochester installed a new supercomputer to support its laser fusion experiments.

The new supercomputer has increased the computing power of the laboratory by four times and shortened the time required to complete certain projects from 30 weeks to a few days.

The Laser Energy Laboratory (LLE) at the University of Rochester is one of the few facilities in the world that studies laser driven inertial confinement fusion (ICF). Scientists use these facilities for national security purposes and obtain energy from nuclear fusion.
Valeri Goncharov, the director of the theoretical department and scientist at the laboratory, said, "A new supercomputer located at the university will enable researchers to simulate complex high-energy density phenomena in ICF in three-dimensional space with unprecedented detail.

For example, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to directly measure the evolution of micrometer scale target defects in implosion. However, detailed 3D simulations can simulate how this phenomenon changes experimental observations that are easier to measure, "Goncharov explained." Discovering the correlation between simulation results and experimental data will help determine the importance of sub scale target features and other complex physical effects in experiments.

The machine is called "Conesus" and is manufactured by Intel and developed in collaboration with Dell Technologies and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). It is currently one of the only seven fourth generation Intel Sapphire Rapids systems worldwide and one of the only two systems in the United States.

The 'TOP 500 List' project began in 1993 and publishes the latest list of the world's most powerful supercomputers twice a year.

How will laser fusion experiments benefit?
The Laser Energy Laboratory at the University of Rochester has two very powerful lasers - Omega and Omega EP - used by researchers for research, including those involving ICF. Last year, scientists made a breakthrough in ignition (i.e. fusion reactions that generate net energy gain) at LLNL's National Ignition Facility (NIF), and this work is based on this breakthrough.

William Scullin, the head of the high-performance computing team at the laboratory, said, "Approximately 10 times a day, our laser is used to create a high-energy star in a jar
But the path to laser driven inertial confinement fusion (ICF) begins with supercomputers modeling materials, lasers, and experiments themselves.

Scullin said, "We have 1D, 2D, and 3D modeling capabilities to simulate inertial confinement fusion. We simulate materials and plasma under extreme temperatures and pressures. High power lasers are not commercially available components. Therefore, we have designed many of our own optical and laser systems internally. In addition, there is an increasing amount of statistical work to be done.

According to Scullin, as the demand for statistical analysis increases, computational scientists are exploring how to use machine learning to discover what from old and new data. To make these discoveries possible, LLE needs new computing resources.
Scullin stated that Conesus will provide scientists with computing resources to collect more data and conduct high-resolution research, including using machine learning on larger datasets. Projects that may take 30 weeks to complete on early systems can be completed within a few days using Conesus.

Conesus has planned several projects, including testing a statistical model for low-temperature implosion in Omega laser systems; simulation α Particle cessation and combustion of plasma; Studying liquid crystals produces large responses and has very high thermal stability.

The Laser Energy Laboratory (LLE) at the University of Rochester will accommodate two 25 gigawatt lasers as part of a project supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) at the University of Rochester, with a budget of $18 million and a duration of 3 years. As part of this project, the laboratory will establish a new facility called EP-OPAL, which will be dedicated to studying the interaction between ultra-high intensity lasers and matter.

Source: OFweek