Modelling and Simulation

Researchers from numerous scientific disciplines use Forschungszentrum Jülich’s supercomputers to achieve breakthroughs that are only possible using the systems’ enormous computing power. Well over 200 research groups from Jülich, Germany, and Europe usually work on the machines in parallel. The projects focus on fundamental questions such as those related to the climate, the environment, renewable energy, properties of materials, or brain research.

Modellierung & Simulation
Research fields of the scientific projects on the supercomputer JUWELS (as of May 2022)

Computing time for excellent research

Computing time on the Jülich supercomputers is both valuable and in high demand. Access to the JUWELS supercomputer is granted by the Gauss Centre for Supercomputing (GCS) and the John von Neumann Institute for Computing (NIC), a joint foundation of the three Helmholtz Centres Forschungszentrum Jülich, Deutsches Elektronensynchrotron DESY, and GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung. GCS is a cooperation of the national supercomputing centres in Germany and unites the three computing centres of Forschungszentrum Jülich (Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC)), the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities (Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ)), and the University of Stuttgart (High-Performance Computing Center Stuttgart ((HLRS)). In addition, researchers from all over Europe can use JUWELS for their projects via the Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe PRACE.

A review by an independent institution, which is conducted by the John von Neumann Institute for Computing, is crucial for approval. This review is based on the German Research Foundation’s (DFG) criteria of excellence. The most exciting and promising scientific projects are then allocated computing time on the supercomputers. >> Apply for computing time (JSC website)

High-level support

At JSC, nearly 200 experts cover a wide range of topics. They offer scientists support on all aspects of supercomputing and the simulation sciences. The expert teams at JSC advise scientific users on how to optimize their programmes and help with specific issues such as visualization or the application of deep learning methods.

In addition, JSC operates various Simulation and Data Laboratories, which assist scientific users with subject-specific questions. Interdisciplinary teams from the respective scientific fields work in these SimLabs. In addition to their specialist backgrounds, the researchers are characterized by their extensive technical and methodological expertise. While these groups work together with applied computer scientists to support their colleagues in using the Jülich supercomputers in numerous ways, they also conduct their own research.

Simulation and Data Laboratories

Simulation calculations and data analyses on high-performance computers involve a whole range of challenges. The Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC) has established a number of Simulation and Data Laboratories (SDL) to provide individual assistance to scientific users regarding their projects. Scientists from a specific field who – in addition to their subject-specific background – have an extensive expertise in the area of high-performance computing work in a SimLab.

Simulation and Data Labs (SDL) at JSC:

  • SDL Biology
  • SDL Molecular Systems
  • SDL Plasma Physics
  • SDL Climate Science
  • SDL Highly Scalable Fluids & Solids Engineering
  • SDL Quantum Materials
  • SDL Terrestrial Systems
  • SDL Neuroscience
  • SDL Numerical Quantum Field Theory
  • SDL Astrophysics
  • SDL Electrons & Neutrons

Last Modified: 22.08.2024