Reconfigurable multi-bit processor for DSP applications in statistical physics

A PC-AT hosted DSP processor architecture implemented in SRAM-based field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) and static memories is described. Despite its simplicity, the processor circuits can be reconfigured under software control to tackle a class of multi-bit 'pixel' processing problems of current interest in the statistical physics of disordered materials, thereby offering some of the problem flexibility of a general purpose processor and the performance of custom hardware. The flexibility offered by the FPGA implementation is discussed in detail as is a particular application of the processor (to disordered superconductors). The performance of the processor is shown to compare well with similarly costing commercial DSP hardware. The low cost of the processor means it can be replicated to obtain dedicated supercomputer performance.<>