Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz have used a NASA supercomputer to build the most accurate universe simulation ever created. The Bolshoi Universe Simulation is currently the most accurate cosmological simulation of the evolution of the large-scale structure of the universe and took four years to create and 6 million CPU hours to run on the Pleiades supercomputer.
Its been constructed to provide astronomers around the world with new guides for observing and describing the most distant galaxies that telescopes can see. Watch a video of the Bolshoi Universe Simulation after the jump.
The Significance of the Bolshoi Universe Simulation
The simulation has been named “Bolshoi,” the Russian word for “great” or “grand,” and also indicates the nature and power of another unknown force called dark energy that is essential to the recognized expansion of the universe. Dark energy is a mysterious force that makes up about 68% of the universe and is driving its accelerated expansion. Understanding dark energy is one of the biggest challenges in cosmology today, and the Bolshoi Simulation provides a crucial tool for researchers to explore this enigmatic component of our universe.
“The starting point for Bolshoi was the best ground- and space-based observations, including NASA’s long-running and highly successful WMAP Explorer mission that has been mapping the light of the Big Bang in the entire sky”
The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) mission has been instrumental in providing data that underpins the Bolshoi Simulation. By mapping the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation, WMAP has given scientists a snapshot of the universe when it was just 380,000 years old. This data is critical for setting the initial conditions of the simulation, ensuring its accuracy and reliability.
Applications and Future Prospects
The Bolshoi Simulation is not just a static model; it is a dynamic tool that can be used for a variety of research purposes. For instance, it helps astronomers understand the distribution of dark matter, which makes up about 27% of the universe. Dark matter does not emit, absorb, or reflect light, making it invisible and detectable only through its gravitational effects. The Bolshoi Simulation allows researchers to study how dark matter clumps together to form the large-scale structures we see in the universe today, such as galaxies and galaxy clusters.
Moreover, the simulation provides insights into the formation and evolution of galaxies. By comparing the simulated data with actual astronomical observations, scientists can test different theories of galaxy formation and evolution. This can lead to a better understanding of how galaxies like our Milky Way came to be and how they will evolve in the future.
The Bolshoi Simulation also has implications for future astronomical missions. As new telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) come online, the simulation will serve as a benchmark for interpreting the data these advanced instruments collect. By providing a detailed model of the universe, the Bolshoi Simulation helps astronomers make sense of the vast amounts of data that will be generated, leading to new discoveries and a deeper understanding of the cosmos.
The Bolshoi Universe Simulation represents a monumental achievement in computational cosmology. It not only enhances our understanding of the universe’s large-scale structure but also provides a valuable tool for future research. As technology advances and new data becomes available, the Bolshoi Simulation will continue to be an essential resource for astronomers and cosmologists around the world.
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