Parallel implementation of the ADI-FDTD method

Stefanski, T. and Drysdale, T.D. (2009) Parallel implementation of the ADI-FDTD method. Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, 51(5), pp. 1298-1304. (doi: 10.1002/mop.24310)

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Abstract

We present a parallel implementation of the three-dimensional alternating direction implicit finite-difference time-domain (ADI-FDTD) method in Cartesian coordinates using the message passing interface (MPI) library. Parallel implementations not only speed up computations but also increase the maximum solvable problem size. The application of the ADI scheme results in freeing the time-step size from the Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy stability constraint. We demonstrate a speedup of the ADI-FDTD method through parallelization, even though the communication overhead between the processors is proportional to the volume of the domain, rather than just the surface area of the subdomains as for standard parallel FDTD. We benchmarked our code on an IBM p690 symmetric multiprocessor and also a distributed memory computer cluster with a high-bandwidth Infiniband interconnect. In both cases, satisfactory scalability and efficiency was demonstrated for simulation domains comprising up to 8 billion mesh cells.

Item Type:Articles
Keywords:ADI-FDTD method, cell, cells, computational electromagnetics, design, efficiency, engineering, high-performance computing, implementation, maxwells equations, media, memory, optics, parallel processing, simulation, stability, volume
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Drysdale, Dr Timothy and Stefanski, Mr Tomasz
Authors: Stefanski, T., and Drysdale, T.D.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
Journal Name:Microwave and Optical Technology Letters
ISSN:0895-2477
ISSN (Online):1098-2760
Published Online:13 March 2009

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
400041Electronics Design Centre for Heterogeneous SystemsDavid CummingEngineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EP/D501288/1ENG - ENGINEERING ELECTRONICS & NANO ENG