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Of the four fundamental forces of nature (gravity, electromagnetic, strong and weak forces), gravity plays the largest role, by far, in interactions between distant objects. Therefore, researchers developing the D3M system directed its focus to the effects of gravity on the Universe.

Such models can require researchers to run thousands of simulations, and the most accurate models examine how billions of bodies behave over the age of the Universe.

Investigators provided D3M with 8,000 of the most accurate simulations ever created. Neural networks ran calculations on the data, and researchers compared those results to their expected results.

Following this training, D3M ran simulations on the behavior of virtual galaxies within a box measuring 600 million light years per side. While traditional faster models produce data in two to three minutes to complete, and more detailed scenarios take hundreds of hours to produce a result, D3M completed its task in less than 1/30th of a second.

Faster models typically produce an error rate around 9.3 percent when compared to the best known results. In comparison, this new system produced a model with an error rate of a mere 2.8 percent.

Comparing the AI-driven D3M model to the earlier 2LPT scenario shows that D3M is significantly more accurate than earlier models. These images reveal differences between both of these faster models, compared to results from a slower simulation. Dark blue dots show the smallest discrepancies between each faster simulation, compared to slower systems, while light blue reveals areas of high discrepancies compared to more accurate models. Image credit: S. He et al./Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2019

Researchers expected the speed and accuracy of their system to exceed that of previous models. What they did not expect was the AI to be able to carry out scenarios in which it had no training.

Modeling the behavior of vast numbers of galaxies requires extraordinary computing power, and detailed simulations can take days to complete. Faster simulations, able to return results in a matter of minutes, lack some of the detail and accuracy possible with older, slower, models.

The D3M model developed scenarios far more accurate than other models of the gravitational effect of gravity on galaxies, such as the second-order perturbation theory (2LPT).

“We can run these simulations in a few milliseconds, while other ‘fast’ simulations take a couple of minutes. Not only that, but we’re much more accurate,” Ho stated.

Computer simulations are utilized to model a wide range of astronomical scenarios, such as how galaxies would react if the amount of dark energy varies over time.