Efficient and portable Winograd convolutions for multi-core processors

We take a step forward towards developing high-performance codes for the convolution operator, based on the Winograd algorithm, that are easy to customise for general-purpose processor architectures. In our approach, augmenting the portability of the solution is achieved via the introduction of vector instructions from Intel SSE/AVX2/AVX512 and ARM NEON/SVE to exploit the single-instruction multiple-data capabilities of current processors as well as OpenMP pragmas to exploit multi-threaded parallelism. While this comes at the cost of sacrificing a fraction of the computational performance, our experimental results on three distinct processors, with Intel Xeon Skylake, ARM Cortex A57 and Fujitsu A64FX processors, show that the impact is affordable and still renders a Winograd-based solution that is competitive when compared with the lowering GEMM-based convolution

Automatic Generators for a Family of Matrix Multiplication Routines with Apache TVM

We explore the utilization of the Apache TVM open source framework to automatically generate a family of algorithms that follow the approach taken by popular linear algebra libraries, such as GotoBLAS2, BLIS and OpenBLAS, in order to obtain high-performance blocked formulations of the general matrix multiplication (GEMM). % In addition, we fully automatize the generation process, by also leveraging the Apache TVM framework to derive a complete variety of the processor-specific micro-kernels for GEMM. This is in contrast with the convention in high performance libraries, which hand-encode a single micro-kernel per architecture using Assembly code. % In global, the combination of our TVM-generated blocked algorithms and micro-kernels for GEMM 1)~improves portability, maintainability and, globally, streamlines the software life cycle; 2)~provides high flexibility to easily tailor and optimize the solution to different data types, processor architectures, and matrix operand shapes, yielding performance on a par (or even superior for specific matrix shapes) with that of hand-tuned libraries; and 3)~features a small memory footprint.Comment: 35 pages, 22 figures. Submitted to ACM TOM

The Sound Emission Board of the KM3NeT Acoustic Positioning System

We describe the sound emission board proposed for installation in the acoustic positioning system of the future KM3NeT underwater neutrino telescope. The KM3NeT European consortium aims to build a multi-cubic kilometre underwater neutrino telescope in the deep Mediterranean Sea. In this kind of telescope the mechanical structures holding the optical sensors, which detect the Cherenkov radiation produced by muons emanating from neutrino interactions, are not completely rigid and can move up to dozens of meters in undersea currents. Knowledge of the position of the optical sensors to an accuracy of about 10 cm is needed for adequate muon track reconstruction. A positioning system based on the acoustic triangulation of sound transit time differences between fixed seabed emitters and receiving hydrophones attached to the kilometre-scale vertical flexible structures carrying the optical sensors is being developed. In this paper, we describe the sound emission board developed in the framework of KM3NeT project, which is totally adapted to the chosen FFR SX30 ultrasonic transducer and fulfils the requirements imposed by the collaboration in terms of cost, high reliability, low power consumption, high acoustic emission power for short signals, low intrinsic noise and capacity to use arbitrary signals in emission mode.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

A first search for coincident gravitational waves and high energy neutrinos using LIGO, Virgo and ANTARES data from 2007

We present the results of the first search for gravitational wave bursts associated with high energy neutrinos. Together, these messengers could reveal new, hidden sources that are not observed by conventional photon astronomy, particularly at high energy. Our search uses neutrinos detected by the underwater neutrino telescope ANTARES in its 5 line configuration during the period January - September 2007, which coincided with the fifth and first science runs of LIGO and Virgo, respectively. The LIGO-Virgo data were analysed for candidate gravitational-wave signals coincident in time and direction with the neutrino events. No significant coincident events were observed. We place limits on the density of joint high energy neutrino - gravitational wave emission events in the local universe, and compare them with densities of merger and core-collapse events

Development of an acoustic transceiver for the KM3NeT positioning system

[EN] In this paper we describe an acoustic transceiver developed for the KM3NeT positioning system. The acoustic transceiver is composed of a commercial free flooded transducer, which works mainly in the 20-40 kHz frequency range and withstands high pressures (up to 500 bars). A sound emission board was developed that is adapted to the characteristics of the transducer and meets all requirements: low power consumption, high intensity of emission, low intrinsic noise, arbitrary signals for emission and the capacity of acquiring the receiving signals with very good timing precision. The results of the different tests made with the transceiver in the laboratory and shallow sea water are described, as well as, the activities for its integration in the Instrumentation Line of the ANTARES neutrino telescope and in a NEMO tower for the in situ tests. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.This work has been supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (Spanish Government), Project references FPA2009-13983-C02-02, ACI2009-1067, AIC10-D-00583, and Consolider-Ingenio Multidark (CSD2009-00064). It has also been funded by Generalitat Valenciana, Prometeo/2009/26, and the European 7th Framework Programme, Grant no. 212525.Larosa, G.; Ardid Ramírez, M.; Llorens Alvarez, CD.; Bou Cabo, M.; Martínez Mora, JA.; Adrián Martínez, S.; KM3NeT Consortium (2013). Development of an acoustic transceiver for the KM3NeT positioning system. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment. 725:215-218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2012.11.167S21521872