Accelerating linear system solvers for time-domain component separation of cosmic microwave background data

Component separation is one of the key stages of any modern cosmic microwave background data analysis pipeline. It is an inherently nonlinear procedure and typically involves a series of sequential solutions of linear systems with similar but not identical system matrices, derived for different data models of the same data set. Sequences of this type arise, for instance, in the maximization of the data likelihood with respect to foreground parameters or sampling of their posterior distribution. However, they are also common in many other contexts. In this work we consider solving the component separation problem directly in the measurement (time-) domain. This can have a number of important benefits over the more standard pixel-based methods, in particular if non-negligible time-domain noise correlations are present, as is commonly the case. The approach based on the time-domain, however, implies significant computational effort because the full volume of the time-domain data set needs to be manipulated. To address this challenge, we propose and study efficient solvers adapted to solving time-domain-based component separation systems and their sequences, and which are capable of capitalizing on information derived from the previous solutions. This is achieved either by adapting the initial guess of the subsequent system or through a so-called subspace recycling, which allows constructing progressively more efficient two-level preconditioners. We report an overall speed-up over solving the systems independently of a factor of nearly 7, or 5, in our numerical experiments, which are inspired by the likelihood maximization and likelihood sampling procedures, respectively

Solving linear equations with messenger-field and conjugate gradient techniques: An application to CMB data analysis

We discuss linear system solvers invoking a messenger-field and compare them with (preconditioned) conjugate gradient approaches. We show that the messenger-field techniques correspond to fixed point iterations of an appropriately preconditioned initial system of linear equations. We then argue that a conjugate gradient solver applied to the same preconditioned system, or equivalently a preconditioned conjugate gradient solver using the same preconditioner and applied to the original system, will in general ensure at least a comparable and typically better performance in terms of the number of iterations to convergence and time-to-solution. We illustrate our conclusions with two common examples drawn from the cosmic microwave background (CMB) data analysis: Wiener filtering and map-making. In addition, and contrary to the standard lore in the CMB field, we show that the performance of the preconditioned conjugate gradient solver can depend significantly on the starting vector. This observation seems of particular importance in the cases of map-making of high signal-to-noise ratio sky maps and therefore should be of relevance for the next generation of CMB experiments

MEE (Materials Engineering for Electronics) - Aim, Tools and Perspectives

New approach to solidification processes based on a combination  of mechanical vibrations and on specially introduced magneto-hydrodynamic forces is illustrated on GaSb grown from Ga and Sb solutions. Process is accelerated approximately 20-times compared with "classical" Travelling heater method - solution growth. Up to now, though ingots possess mosaic texture, their transport properties: μH = 3.800 cm2/Vs, p = 1.7 . 1017 at 77 K are slightly better than published results. A schematic arrangement of the growth apparatus for a modified travelling heater method, and of the growth conditions are given. A simple calculation of levitation phenomenon being generated by a controlled MHD forces are presented. There is brought a brief analyses of this phenomenon for an application on the above mentioned processes. Some experimentation attempts are added. Possible perspectives inhering in this peculiar process can also inspire young investigators/scientists