high performance computing on graphics processing units: hgpu.org

I introduce a new code for fast calculation of the Lomb-Scargle periodogram, that leverages the computing power of graphics processing units (GPUs). After establishing a background to the newly emergent field of GPU computing, I discuss the code design and narrate the key parts of the source. Benchmarking calculations indicate no significant differences in accuracy compared to an equivalent CPU-based code; however, the code is up to 200 times faster than the CPU equivalent. Possible applications include spectral analysis of long photometric time series obtained by ongoing satellite missions; and Monte-Carlo simulation of periodogram statistical properties.