article · AIP Advances · 2025
Applications of multi-GPU computing in large-scale fully kinetic particle-in-cell simulations of space plasma
Q. Y. Xiong, S. Y. Huang, Zhuoning Yuan, Lvlin Kuang, Bharatkumar Sharma, K. Jiang, Honghong Wu, Lin Yu
Cited by 1Open access
Abstract
The rapid development of an emerging computing device, the graphical processing unit (GPU), has significantly enhanced our ability to conduct full kinetic particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations in space physics. In this paper, we propose an approach that leverages multiple GPUs to facilitate large-scale PIC simulations. This method can effectively reduce data transmission frequency and latency during the computing process. The data communication between GPU devices is optimized through a combination of Message Passing Interface (MPI)-NVIDIA Collective Communications Library (NCCL) running pattern. Our implementation surpasses the expected linear acceleration, achieving superior computing performance and operational efficiency. The instances of large-scale PIC simulations are presented based on physical models of magnetic reconnection, plasma turbulence, and quasi-perpendicular shock. The importance of large-scale simulations is demonstrated in terms of grid resolution, macroparticles used per cell, and the mass ratio between ions and electrons. The multi-GPU enabled fully kinetic PIC simulation demonstrates its capability to efficiently handle large-scale PIC simulations as a crucial requirement for the study of space plasma physics.
Cite this paper
Xiong, Q. Y., Huang, S. Y., Yuan, Z., Kuang, L., Sharma, B., Jiang, K., Wu, H., & Yu, L. (2025). Applications of multi-GPU computing in large-scale fully kinetic particle-in-cell simulations of space plasma. AIP Advances, 15(2). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0251687
Xiong, Q. Y., et al. “Applications of multi-GPU computing in large-scale fully kinetic particle-in-cell simulations of space plasma.” AIP Advances, vol. 15, no. 2, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0251687.
Xiong, Q. Y., S. Y. Huang, Zhuoning Yuan, Lvlin Kuang, Bharatkumar Sharma, K. Jiang, Honghong Wu, and Lin Yu. 2025. “Applications of multi-GPU computing in large-scale fully kinetic particle-in-cell simulations of space plasma.” AIP Advances 15 (2). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0251687.
Xiong, Q.Y. et al. (2025) ‘Applications of multi-GPU computing in large-scale fully kinetic particle-in-cell simulations of space plasma’, AIP Advances, 15(2). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0251687.
@article{xiong2025applications,
title = {{Applications of multi-GPU computing in large-scale fully kinetic particle-in-cell simulations of space plasma}},
author = {Xiong, Q. Y. and Huang, S. Y. and Yuan, Zhuoning and Kuang, Lvlin and Sharma, Bharatkumar and Jiang, K. and Wu, Honghong and Yu, Lin},
journal = {AIP Advances},
volume = {15},
number = {2},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1063/5.0251687}
}Made from the index record. Check names, capitalisation and page numbers against the paper. Need another style? AI for Research has over 10,000.