| Abstract |
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 key parts
of its source. Benchmarking calculations indicate no significant
differences in accuracy compared to an equivalent CPU-based code.
However, the differences in performance are pronounced; running on a
low-end GPU, the code can match eight CPU cores, and on a high-end GPU
it is faster by a factor approaching 30. Applications of the code
include analysis of long photometric time series obtained by ongoing
satellite missions and upcoming ground-based monitoring facilities, and
Monte Carlo simulation of periodogram statistical properties. |