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proposal_BioDynamo_LargeScaleAntimatter.md

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title BioDynaMo Large-Scale Antimatter Simulation
layout gsoc_proposal
project BioDynamo
year 2026
difficulty medium
duration 350
mentor_avail June-October
organization
CompRes
project_mentors
email first_name last_name is_preferred_contact organization
vvasilev@cern.ch
Vassil
Vassilev
true
Princeton University
email first_name last_name organization
lukas.johannes.breitwieser@cern.ch
Lukas
Breitwieser
CERN

Description

Deliver a self-contained BioDynaMo module and research prototype that enables validated, reproducible simulations of charged antiparticle ensembles in Penning-trap-like geometries at scales beyond existing demonstrations. The project generalizes prior BioDynaMo Penning-trap work into a reusable, documented, and scalable module suitable for antimatter-motivated studies and other charged-particle systems.

The participant will extend BioDynaMo with a focused set of features (pluginized force models, neighbor search tuned for charged particles, elastic runtime hooks, and analysis/visualization pipelines), validate the models on canonical testcases (single-particle motion, small plasma modes), and demonstrate scaling and scientific workflows up to the largest feasible size within available resources. BioDynaMo already provides an agent/plugin API, parallel execution (OpenMP), and visualization hooks (ParaView/VTK). A prior intern report demonstrates a Penning-trap proof-of-concept and identifies directions for extension (custom forces, multi-scale runs, hierarchical models, CI, containerization)[1].

Engineering Goals

  • Implement a BioDynaMo plugin module (“AntimatterKernel”) optimized for charged-particle workloads, including SoA-compatible data layouts, spatial decomposition, and an efficient neighbor search.
  • Enable elastic and reproducible execution via containerized workflows and runtime configuration for local, HPC, or cloud environments.
  • Provide performance instrumentation and a small, well-documented benchmark suite integrated with BioDynaMo’s tooling.

Physics/Scientific Goals

  • Implement physics components as BioDynaMo plugins: Penning-trap external fields, Coulomb interactions (pairwise with documented extension points for approximations), stochastic annihilation handling, and basic species support.
  • Validate against analytic and reference scenarios (single-particle trapping, basic plasma oscillation modes), with clearly stated assumptions and limits.
  • Perform a limited parameter sweep (e.g. density, magnetic field, trap voltage) at increasing scale to explore collective behavior observable within accessible regimes.

Expected Results

  • A BioDynaMo plugin/module implementing charged-particle dynamics suitable for antimatter-motivated simulations.
  • A set of validated physics testcases reproducing canonical scenarios, with documented assumptions and limitations.
  • A scalable and reproducible simulation workflow, including performance instrumentation and example benchmark configurations.
  • Elastic execution artifacts (containers and run scripts) enabling consistent execution across local, HPC, and cloud systems.
  • Analysis and visualization pipelines producing scientifically meaningful observables (e.g. density profiles, energy spectra, annihilation maps).
  • A public open-source release with documentation and a short technical report or draft publication suitable for a workshop or conference.

Requirements

  • Automatic differentiation
  • Parallel programming
  • Reasonable expertise in C++ programming

Links

AI Policy

AI assistance is allowed for this contribution. The applicant takes full responsibility for all code and results, disclosing AI use for non-routine tasks (algorithm design, architecture, complex problem-solving). Routine tasks (grammar, formatting, style) do not require disclosure.

How to Apply

In addition to reaching out to the mentors by email, prospective candidates are required to complete this form