Patterns in large amounts of data provide a complete new information

"All of these facilities are already working with large data volumes collected during experiments or computer simulations", explains Peter Benner. At the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems in Magdeburg, the mathematician leads the Computational Methods in Systems and Control Theory Research Group. For example, Benner says, procedures such as x-ray structural analysis or atom probe tomography alone deliver millions of data values per minute; data from which researchers gain insights into the configuration of atoms in solids, for example. Enormous data volumes also result from the quantum mechanics analyses commonplace in solid-state physics and chemistry. The researchers can now draw conclusions on material properties from these data.

However, the new alliance aims to gain even more insights from these data. New methods will be developed to this end, and existing methods refined. "For example, in materials research the data present highly specific challenges to the computer algorithms", explains Benner, who coordinates the new collaboration together with Matthias Scheffler. "This can all be achieved better jointly", says Benner. "Because although we research in different disciplines, the methodological problems are the same for the respective data analyses”.

One of the central objectives: investigating the data for particular structures or patterns, which will then allow completely new information to be extracted, in addition to what is already known. Matthias Scheffler from Berlin points out other disciplines where this is already the case. Epidemiologists, for example, were able to derive in which regions the flu was prevalent based on user queries in Internet search engines. They were able to follow the outbreak's propagation and even forecast its future dispersal on this basis. As Scheffler says, one only needs to recognize the patterns in the data.

A new paradigm in materials science

The cooperating Max Planck scientists are consequently now hopeful that in future, materials researchers can gain new insights from their existing data material. The network aims to concentrate joint activities on five different topics. The objective is to be able to theoretically predict the properties of metals and alloys, determine the causal relationships between material properties and data structures, develop data diagnostics methodologies to convert collected experimental data even more quickly to image information, and facilitate the design of polymer materials with specific, desired properties. In the fifth topic area, the network aims to continue the already started Materials Encyclopaedia. The Novel Materials Discovery Laboratory (NOMAD Centre of Excellence) had previously worked on this encyclopaedia, using exclusively theoretically computed entries. Experimental data will now also be included as part of BigMax.

For Peter Benner, there is no question that the cross-institutional cooperation will integrate complementary information and thus substantially simplify their work. One example he sees is data diagnostics, in which his Magdeburg-based Group collaborates with their colleagues in Potsdam-Golm. "In Golm, they are researching imaging methods that allow new insights into the nanostructures of biomaterials such as bones, for example", explains Benner. "Here, we mathematicians can help to suitably compress the accrued data volume such that they can be quickly converted to informative images."

Until the dream of the multi-dimensional material map is fulfilled, in which one simply looks up the best material to use, there is still a long way to go. But Matthias Scheffler does not doubt the fact that Big Data will help reach this target. Here, he sees a new paradigm in the materials sciences: "Previously, researchers have investigated selected systems and developed models based on a general theoretical understanding", says Scheffler. "I believe that the future quest in terms of Big Data analyses will be the search for structures and patterns in large data volumes. And once we have finally developed the equations to describe them, we can then apply them to materials that we have not even analyzed yet."

With data from solar cells to new thermoelectrics

The physicist believes he can also reach unconventional solutions much more easily using this method. "In individual experiments one usually begins with established criteria", says Scheffler. "This means: one predominantly searches for supraconductors in the substance group in which one was previously successful." But it is exactly this that makes revolutionary developments more difficult. Here, the structural analysis of large data volumes is much more impartial. Matthias Scheffler can therefore readily envisage new thermoelectric materials – that is, materials that convert undesirable waste heat into useful electricity – being discovered in the future, for example in data generated during solar cell research.

If, one day, it is finally possible to theoretically derive material properties, Peter Benner also sees an additional advantage. "This would save the time and money expended on some experiments", says the mathematician from the Max Planck Institute in Magdeburg. And the patience of the researchers, who currently are often forced to approach solutions using the trial-and-error method, would also be less taxed.