A powerful high-performance computer program for simulating and analyzing adaptive and controlled optical systems has been developed by modifying the serial version of the Modeling and Analysis for Controlled Optical Systems (MACOS) program to impart capabilities for multithreaded parallel processing on computing systems ranging from supercomputers down to Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP) personal computers. The modifications included the incorporation of OpenMP, a portable and widely supported application interface software, that can be used to explicitly add multithreaded parallelism to an application program under a shared-memory programming model. OpenMP was applied to parallelize ray-tracing calculations, one of the major computing components in MACOS. Multithreading is also used in the diffraction propagation of light in MACOS based on p-threads [POSIX Thread, (where “POSIX” signifies a portable operating system for UNIX)]. In tests of the parallelized version of MACOS, the speedup in ray-tracing calculations was found to be linear, or proportional to the number of processors, while the speedup in diffraction calculations ranged from 50 to 60 percent, depending on the type and number of processors. The parallelized version of MACOS is portable, and, to the user, its interface is basically the same as that of the original serial version of MACOS.
This program was written by John Lou, Dave Bedding, and Scott Basinger of Caltech for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
This software is available for commercial licensing. Please contact Karina Edmonds of the California Institute of Technology at (818) 393-2827. Refer to NPO-40572.
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Optics Program Modified for Multithreaded Parallel Computing
(reference NPO-40572) is currently available for download from the TSP library.
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Overview
The document discusses the advancements in high-performance computing technologies applied to the Modeling and Analysis for Controlled Optical Systems Program (MACOS) at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). As NASA embarks on complex optical systems for missions like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF), the demand for computing resources has significantly increased. This is due to the growing complexity of optical system architectures and the need for high accuracy in modeling faint terrestrial objects.
To address these challenges, the document highlights the use of multithreading-based parallel computing, which allows large simulation problems to be executed efficiently on both desktop computers and large computing servers. Traditional high-performance computing often requires significant modifications to existing applications, which can be a barrier for engineers and scientists accustomed to using workstations and personal computers. The introduction of OpenMP technology provides a standardized platform for parallel computing, making it easier to adapt existing applications for high-performance environments.
The MACOS program has been successfully parallelized using OpenMP for ray-tracing calculations and Posix multithreading (pthread) for diffraction calculations. Testing on various systems, including Sun workstations and Silicon Graphics Origin 2000, has demonstrated linear speedup for ray-tracing and a 50-60% speedup for diffraction calculations. The parallel MACOS program remains user-friendly, maintaining a similar interface to the original sequential version, which encourages its adoption among engineers.
MACOS serves as a critical optical simulation tool for several NASA missions, providing capabilities for ray-tracing, diffraction propagation, and system sensitivity analysis. These features are essential for wavefront sensing and control technologies used in large space telescopes. When integrated with other analysis tools, such as JPL's IMOS program, MACOS becomes a vital component in end-to-end systems modeling and analysis.
Overall, the document emphasizes the importance of adapting high-performance computing technologies to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of optical systems modeling, ultimately supporting NASA's ambitious space exploration goals. The advancements in MACOS not only improve computational speed but also facilitate the analysis of increasingly complex optical systems, paving the way for future innovations in aerospace technology.
