Japan’s most powerful supercomputer runs one of largest dark energy simulations

Japan’s Most Powerful Supercomputer Runs One of Largest Dark Energy Simulations

A team of scientists from Japan, Spain, and the US utilized one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers, the Fugaku system, to run one of the largest dark energy simulations to date. This groundbreaking project marks a significant advancement in the field of cosmology and sheds light on the mysterious force driving the accelerated expansion of the universe.

Dark energy, a hypothetical form of energy that permeates all of space and exerts a negative pressure, is believed to be responsible for the accelerated expansion of the universe. Despite its pervasive influence, dark energy remains poorly understood, making it one of the most compelling mysteries in modern physics.

By harnessing the computational power of the Fugaku supercomputer, which is jointly developed by RIKEN and Fujitsu, the international team of researchers was able to simulate the effects of dark energy on the large-scale structure of the universe with unprecedented accuracy and detail. The simulation, known as the “Fugaku cosmology run,” involved creating a virtual universe within the supercomputer and tracking the evolution of dark matter and dark energy over billions of years.

The sheer scale of the simulation is staggering, with over 300 billion particles representing dark matter and a simulated volume of space spanning 4 billion light-years on each side. By comparing the results of the simulation to observational data from galaxy surveys and cosmic microwave background experiments, the researchers were able to validate the accuracy of their model and gain new insights into the nature of dark energy.

One of the key findings of the simulation is the confirmation of the so-called “phantom crossing” behavior of dark energy, where its equation of state crosses the phantom divide, a critical threshold that determines the ultimate fate of the universe. This behavior has profound implications for our understanding of the cosmic expansion and the long-term evolution of the universe.

Furthermore, the Fugaku cosmology run allowed the researchers to study the formation and distribution of cosmic structures, such as galaxy clusters and cosmic voids, providing valuable insights into the underlying physics governing the growth of cosmic structures.

The successful completion of the dark energy simulation on the Fugaku supercomputer highlights the crucial role of high-performance computing in pushing the boundaries of scientific research. As supercomputers continue to evolve and become more powerful, scientists will be able to tackle ever more complex and computationally intensive problems, leading to new discoveries and breakthroughs in our understanding of the universe.

In conclusion, the collaboration between researchers from Japan, Spain, and the US, supported by the computational prowess of the Fugaku supercomputer, has yielded valuable insights into the nature of dark energy and its impact on the evolution of the universe. This groundbreaking simulation represents a significant step forward in the field of cosmology and sets the stage for further advancements in our quest to unravel the mysteries of the cosmos.

supercomputer, dark energy, cosmology, simulation, Fugaku

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