=Paper=
{{Paper
|id=Vol-3041/407-412-paper-75
|storemode=property
|title=Virtual Research Environment NanoHLIT for Hybrid Nanostructures Research on the HybriLIT Platform
|pdfUrl=https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-3041/407-412-paper-75.pdf
|volume=Vol-3041
|authors=Yuri Butenko,Andrey Nechaevskiy,Ilhom Rahmonv,Oksana Streltsova
}}
==Virtual Research Environment NanoHLIT for Hybrid Nanostructures Research on the HybriLIT Platform==
https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-3041/407-412-paper-75.pdf
Proceedings of the 9th International Conference "Distributed Computing and Grid Technologies in Science and
Education" (GRID'2021), Dubna, Russia, July 5-9, 2021
VIRTUAL RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT NANOHLIT FOR
HYBRID NANOSTRUCTURES RESEARCH ON THE
HYBRILIT PLATFORM
Yu.A. Butenko1,a, A.V. Nechaevskiy1, I.R. Rahmonov2, O.I. Streltsova1
1
Meshcheryakov Laboratory of Information Technologies of Joint Institute for Nuclear
Research, 6 Joliot-Curie St, Dubna, 141980, Russia
2
Bogoliubov Laboratory of Theoretical Physics of Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 6
Joliot-Curie St, Dubna, 141980, Russia
E-mail: a ybutenko@jinr.ru
The paper describes the main components of the NANOHLIT virtual research environment (VRE),
developed as part of the joint MLIT and BLTP JINR project, for physical processes modeling in
complex systems based on Josephson Junctions. VRE is developed and deployed on the basis of the
heterogeneous HybriLIT computing platform (LIT JINR). One of the features of the developed VRE is
the use of high-performance calculations on heterogeneous computing platforms. The main goals of
creating NANOHLIT were to create a convenient research environment for working with models,
performing calculations by various groups of researchers and ensuring storage of simulation results.
VRE combines convenient web-based tools for creating models, an interface for performing
calculations on the heterogeneous computing platform HybriLIT and tools for results visualization
and analysis.
Keywords: information systems, virtual research environment, HPC, software, data storage,
mathematical modeling, high-performance computing
Yuri Butenko, Andrey Nechaevskiy, Ilhom Rahmonv, Oksana Streltsova
Copyright © 2021 for this paper by its authors.
Use permitted under Creative Commons License Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
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Proceedings of the 9th International Conference "Distributed Computing and Grid Technologies in Science and
Education" (GRID'2021), Dubna, Russia, July 5-9, 2021
1. Introduction
In hybrid Josephson nanostructures consisting of superconductors and magnetic systems [1,2]
an anomalous Josephson effect is observed, which consists in the occurrence of a phase shift in their
current-phase relation. This phase shift is proportional to the component of the magnetic moment of
the magnetic system, which makes it possible to control the magnetic properties by means of a
superconducting current and by superconducting properties by means of magnetic dynamics. Such
Josephson nanostructures are promising objects of superconducting electronics and spintronics, which
are intensively developing areas of condensed matter physics. Examples of Josephson nanostructures
consisting of superconductors and magnetic systems can be a Josephson junction with a ferromagnetic
barrier [3] or a system consisting of a Josephson junction and a nanomagnet [4]. One of the important
issues in this area is the study of the reversal of the magnetic moment under the influence of an
external signal.
Such kind of researches by using mathematical modeling methods need both resource-
intensive calculations and calculations for a large number of model parameter values. So use of high-
performance computing platforms on which calculations can be organized with both parallel
programming technologies and data parallelization technologies are necessary. An important part of
the research effective process is a convenient tool for visualization and analysis of modeling results.
The above factors, as well as the need for the research results exchanging by various scientific
groups, led to the creation of a virtual research environment NANOHLIT, as a joint project of a group
of researchers from the BLTP and the MLIT of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research. VRE
NANOHLIT based on the heterogeneous computing platform HybriLIT [5], which provides both the
possibility of developing an IT project and resources for parallel calculations [6,7], a system for
storing models and data, as well as resources for VRE deployment and support.
It should be noted that the term virtual research environment (VRE) is usually used to refer to
developed digital environments that are designed to meet a number of needs of the research
community [8]. VRE means an environment with a set of tools and technologies necessary for
scientists to conduct their research, interact with other groups of scientists, use resources and technical
and computing infrastructures [9]. The functionality of the developed VRE NANOHLIT includes such
capabilities as creating models, performing calculations, including on hybrid computing architectures,
tools for data analysis, combined on the basis of web technologies into a single software and
information environment with support for the collective work of research groups. At the moment,
users could make a research with available systems of superconductor/ferromagnetic/superconductor
[10], allowing for the calculation of time dynamics and parametric dependence, and system consisting
of a long Josephson junction and a nanomagnet. Also, the developed environment is planned for
teaching students to work with models of systems built on Josephson junctions, which requires
separate consideration when developing the system.
2. VRE backend description
For modeling physical processes in complex systems based on Josephson junctions VRE uses
massive parallel processing and high-performance computing based on HybriLIT platform.
As noted above, a key feature of the developing NANOHLIT research environment is the need
to provide convenient and secure access to high performance computing resources (CPU, graphics
processors, and data storage) for various research groups. A typical HPC platform user process: model
building, design and implementation of a computing scheme is carried out on a user’s resources, then
data is transferred to the HPC platform on which the applications are launched, and the results of the
simulation are copied back to the user, where they are analysed and visualized using different tools.
In this case, it becomes actual to develop a special web-based environment for modelling in a
single information space, as well as providing an opportunity for different research groups to organize
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Proceedings of the 9th International Conference "Distributed Computing and Grid Technologies in Science and
Education" (GRID'2021), Dubna, Russia, July 5-9, 2021
joint research, exchange models and calculations results. Developed web-service allows user to
interact with the resources of the computing platform: run models with different parameters, receive
the status of its execution and the results. The implementation of such a function is possible using the
client-server architecture of the web service, in which the client part provides the user interface, and
the server part implements interaction with the HybriLIT platform. The scheme and the description of
the service architecture are described in [11].
The service are implemented as a web application and has a client-server architecture. The
servers are Node.js, and the clients written using the Vue.js library. The service provide convenient
and safe access to the HybriLIT platform and the ML/DL ecosystem, which comprises a large number
of frameworks and tools. This approach has the following advantages:
the service provides authorized access to the computing components of the HybriLIT platform
using the SLURM batch system;
on the basis of web technologies, a common interface for researchers is implemented for
interacting with the MariaDB database and file storages;
the service provides a user interface for storing, modifying and adding data.
In addition, all calculations are performed on a remote dedicated server, which does not
require computing resources from the user’s device. The server-side (backend) is the software and
hardware part of the service, which implements application programming interfaces (APIs) for
interaction of the client-side (frontend) with the service components without directly accessing them
from the frontend using POST requests. It simplifies work with the platform for a group of researchers
and isolates different use cases depending on access rights. The core of the backend is the Node.js
technology. This software platform allows one to implement a fast, asynchronous, eventdriven API
server. Node.js also adds the ability for JavaScript to interact with I/O devices via its programming
interface and to connect other external libraries, which are written in different programming languages
(C/C++, Python, etc.).
3. VRE frontend
At the moment VRE NANOHLIT users are divided into three roles: "administrator",
"researcher" and "student" with different levels of access to the system shown in the diagram below
(Fig. 1). The block that is numbered in the diagram with "1" is responsible for filling the system with
models (Model Bank). This block is available only for "administrator" and "researcher", the difference
between "administrator" and "researcher" rights is the ability to configure access rights and manage
the contents of the "Model Bank".
The second block (indicated by the number "2") implements the workflow of all users of the
system. It allows one to create own models based on the models presented in the "Model Bank", edit
model (modify model elements and change parameter values), perform calculations on selected
platforms with certain sets of parameters and view the results of calculations. The third block (number
"3"), allows the evaluation of the calculations performed by the student, the block is available for the
"administrator" and "researcher".
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Proceedings of the 9th International Conference "Distributed Computing and Grid Technologies in Science and
Education" (GRID'2021), Dubna, Russia, July 5-9, 2021
Figure 1. Roles and base workflow
Let's describe the user's interaction with the system in more detail. First of all, in order to
interact with the platform, the user needs to have an account on the HybriLIT platform. At the
beginning of the work, the user selects the necessary object from the "Model Bank". Based on the
selected model, a new object is formed for conducting research (point 2, Fig.2). After that, a form for
constructing a computational experiment becomes available to the user. For this purpose, a module has
been implemented for the formation of mathematical models, input of initial and boundary conditions,
parameters and control functions for the systems under study, depending on the selected algorithm
(point 3, Fig.2). After correctly filling in all the necessary parameters, you can run the task on the
account by pressing the "RUN" button. The list of elements for the model configuration is
implemented in the form of JSON objects stored in the database. For example, the structure of the
superconductor/ferromagnet/superconductor (SFS) object includes: identifier, name, direct position on
the diagram, location of the script to run in the SLURM batch system, parameters for calculation.
Depending on the user's choice, the corresponding algorithms are launched to perform calculations on
the HybriLIT platform. As a result, the task ID will come from the server as a response (item 4, Fig.2).
For the convenience of the user, the ability to view data from files with results in the form of graphs
via the web interface is implemented. To build a graph, the user selects a file from the list and the type
of graph (p.5,6, Fig.2). In addition, it is possible to combine data from different files on the same
chart.
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Proceedings of the 9th International Conference "Distributed Computing and Grid Technologies in Science and
Education" (GRID'2021), Dubna, Russia, July 5-9, 2021
Figure 2. Scheme of user interaction with the system web interface
4. Conclusion
To solve the tasks of mathematical modeling of physical phenomena in hybrid nanostructures
comprising superconductors and magnets, a prototype of the virtual research environment (VRE) was
developed. The developed VRE prototype allows one to create computing experiment from a given set
of models online. The implemented algorithms and tools allow one to perform a parallel calculations
on HybriLIT platform, as well as analyze results. The research environment is actively developing,
supplemented with new relevant models and tools.
It is planned to use the VRE NANOHLIT into the educational process for research Josephson
junctions systems by mathematical modeling for students at the JINR UNC, Dubna State University
and other universities.
The developed approaches and IT solutions can be used to create virtual research
environments for solving applied tasks in different fields of science.
5. Acknowledgement
The reported study was funded by RFBR according to the research project № 20-37-70056.
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