SCIENCE

Using hardware developed by the computer game industry, Swinburne University astronomers are solving some of science’s most challenging computational problems.

In a series of papers published this year, members of the university’s Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing have shown how graphics processing units (GPUs) – a type of processor that improves graphics in computer games – can be applied to the field of astronomy.

According to Dr Christopher Fluke from the centre’s Scientific Computing and Visualisation group, the researchers decided to apply the gaming technology to astrophysics because GPUs have enormous potential to increase computational power.

“It’s been three decades since Space Invaders was first released, and it’s obvious that the quality and level of detail in computer game graphics has advanced incredibly during this time. This is partially due to game designers using increasingly clever programming tricks, but it’s mainly due to the huge boost from advancements in hardware,” he said.

Dr Fluke said that the Swinburne researchers were now using GPUs for tasks as diverse as modelling light being deflected by dark matter and allowing real-time 3D visualisation of some of the largest data sets obtained with radio telescopes.

“A GPU costing a few hundred dollars is capable of drawing 10 billion pixels to the screen per second. This increased processing capability is thanks to parallel processing – where many calculations are performed at the same time, rather one after the other.

“Many astronomical computations match perfectly with this parallel processing paradigm,” he said. 

According to Ben Barsdell, a PhD student leading the GPU charge at Swinburne, the use of GPUs allows the researchers to perform calculations up to 100 times faster than a typical desktop computer.

“Such incredible processing power is now being harnessed outside of the gaming industry, and scientists are among the big winners in this technology revolution,” he said.

For the first time, GPU-powered systems are becoming prominent in the world’s list of top 500 supercomputers. In June, Nebulae, a GPU powered facility in China, leapt to the number two position.

The Swinburne researchers, who are pioneering the use of graphics processing units for astronomy in Australia and playing a lead role in eResearch, are providing a blueprint for early adoption of the specialised techniques required to program GPUs. They are keen to see other astronomers join the GPU revolution.

"We are very excited by the prospects of GPUs for astronomy," said Dr Fluke. "We are already seeing significant reductions in the time it takes to run our codes, and that means we can get to our scientific results much faster." 

Australia’s astronomy community will also benefit from a recently announced multi-million dollar upgrade to Swinburne’s supercomputer, which will finance the installation of GPUs.  The ‘gSTAR’ upgrade, which received $1 million from the Federal Government’s Education Investment Fund (EIF) and $2 million from Swinburne will see the raw power of the supercomputer go from 10 to 600 teraflops.

Dr Fluke will be presenting a free public lecture on how Swinburne astronomers are using GPUs in their research.

‘From Games to Galaxies’ will be held on Friday 20 August from 6.30pm at Swinburne University’s Hawthorn campus in room BA 201. To book a seat, register online.