In recent years, the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) has emerged as a low-cost alternative for high performance computing, enabling impressive speed-ups for a range of scientific computing applications. Early adopters in astronomy are already benefiting in adapting their, codes to take advantage of the GPU's massively parallel processing paradigm. I give an introduction to, and overview of, the use of GPUs in astronomy to date, highlighting the adoption and application trends from the first similar to 100 GPU-related publications in astronomy. I discuss the opportunities and challenges of utilising GPU computing clusters, such as the new Australian GPU supercomputer, gSTAR, for accelerating the rate of astronomical discovery.
Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series: Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems XXI: 21st Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems Conference (ADASS XXI), Paris, France, 06-10 November 2011 / Pascal Ballester, Daniel Egret and Nuria P. F. Lorente (eds.)
Conference name
Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series: Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems XXI: 21st Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems Conference ADASS XXI, Paris, France, 06-10 November 2011 / Pascal Ballester, Daniel Egret and Nuria P. F. Lorente eds.