Fast Calculation of the Lomb-Scargle Periodogram Using Graphics Processing Units
Department of Astronomy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Sterling Hall, 475 N. Charter Street, Madison, WI 53706, USA
arXiv:1007.1658 [astro-ph.SR] (9 Jul 2010)
@article{townsend2010fast,
title={Fast Calculation of the Lomb-Scargle Periodogram Using Graphics Processing Units},
author={Townsend, RHD},
journal={Arxiv preprint arXiv:1007.1658},
year={2010}
}
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.
November 9, 2010 by hgpu
