Space-based cosmology with Euclid: the role of High-Performance Computing

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The objective of this proposal is to exploit the crucial role of cosmological simulations, based on massively parallel codes, to maximize the scientific return of the Euclid satellite mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) which has been designed to shed light on the nature of dark constituents and on the initial conditions of Universe life. Our project will have the twofold aim of (a) suitably tailoring two codes for cosmological simulations, OpenGADGET and Pinocchio, which have been developed and extensively used by the members of our team, to fully exploit the current generation of pre-exascale HPC infrastructures, while preparing for the forthcoming exascale generation; (b) carrying out state-of-the-art simulations of cosmic structure formation which will be instrumental for maximizing the scientific return of Euclid, arguably the most advanced cosmological experiment in the coming years. The speed and flexibility of the Pinocchio code, which is presently based on Lagrangian Perturbation Theory, will allow us to carry out an unprecedented set of mock Euclid spectroscopic surveys of galaxies. These simulations will be instrumental to calibrate cosmological covariances and the selection function of the Euclid spectroscopic surveys of galaxies. This will allow us to precisely quantify random and systematic errors on cosmological parameters to be derived from the statistical properties of the large-scale distribution of galaxies. At the same time, the N-body + hydrodynamical code OpenGADGET will be used to carry out detailed simulations of galaxy clusters contained within large cosmological volumes. These simulations will be analysed with the specific purpose of calibrating galaxy clusters as precision tools for cosmology, thus providing the ideal complement to the large-scale distribution of galaxies for placing constraints on cosmological models. The two main pillars on which this project will build can be summarized as follows: (i) the large experience in the field of computational cosmology in general, and in particular in the development and use of the OpenGADGET and Pinocchio codes, which granted to several team members coordination roles in European and Italian projects on HPC applications for astrophysics; (ii) the solid and long-term expertise on the cosmological exploitations of large surveys of galaxies and galaxy clusters, which has granted to several of the team members significant coordination roles within the Euclid Consortium, in particular within the Science Working Groups of Galaxy Clustering and of Clusters of Galaxies. Given the themes covered by our project, i.e. development of innovative scientific applications for modern HPC facilities and the scientific exploitation of space-based infrastructures, it is perfectly suited for the “Digital, Industry and Space” Cluster.