A framework for parallel tree-based scientific simulations

Abstract

This paper describes an implementation of a platform-independent parallel C++ N-body framework that can support various scientific simulations that involve tree structures, such as astrophysics, semiconductor device simulation, molecular dynamics, plasma physics, and fluid mechanics. Within the framework the users will be able to concentrate on the computation kernels that differentiate different N-body problems, and let the framework take care of the tedious and error-prone details that care common among N-body applications. This framework was developed based on the techniques we learned from previous CM-5 C implementations, which have been rigorously justified both experimentally and mathematically. This gives us confidence that our framework will allow fast prototyping of different N-body applications, to run on different parallel platforms, and to deliver good performance as well.