Report

FZJ-2025-03278

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Survey of Astrophysics Simulation Codes in Germany: An Initiative of the PUNCH4NFDI Consortium

Hagemeier, A. (Corresponding author)FZJ* ; Wagner, F.FZJ* ; Pfalzner, S.FZJ* ; Marx, R.

2023

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.34734/FZJ-2025-03278

Report No.: 1

Abstract: PUNCH4NFDI is the consortium of particle and astroparticle physics, astrophysics, and hadronic and nuclear physics in the NFDI (national research data infrastructure), Germany. It aims at developing concepts and tools for efficient management of digital research products in fundamental physics and promotes the idea of FAIR data - which is to make scientific data sets findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable. Here we concentrate on the aims and measures of PUNCH4NFDI in the context of astrophysics simulations. As a first step towards better understanding the software usage of the astrophysics simulation community in Germany, PUNCH4NFDI developed a 14-question survey. We distributed the survey through various channels (mailing list, conference flyer, personal communication) in 2022. In total, 130 computational astrophysicists responded to our survey. We found that predominantly codes able to simulate gravitational N-body problems and magnetohydrodynamics are used by the German astrophysics community. Computer programs typically associated with research in solar physics and numerical relativity turned out to be applied to a lesser degree. The degree to which the FAIR principles are already applied varies greatly. In many cases a basic software version is open access, however, the newest work is often based on modified and unreleased versions. The degree of practising the FAIR principles is often a question of available manpower. Some codes are developed and used by single local research groups, others by large research consortia spread around the globe. While smaller research groups are in principle willing to publish and openly share their simulation data, they often simply lack the manpower to do so. We also found that most astrophysicists in Germany view re-using other researchers' data sets as highly desirable.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Jülich Supercomputing Center (JSC)

Research Program(s):

1. 5111 - Domain-Specific Simulation & Data Life Cycle Labs (SDLs) and Research Groups (POF4-511) (POF4-511)
2. DFG project G:(GEPRIS)460248186 - PUNCH4NFDI - Teilchen, Universum, Kerne und Hadronen für die NFDI (460248186) (460248186)

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Database coverage:

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