Devito (v3.1.0): An embedded domain-specific language for finite differences and geophysical exploration
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
© Author(s) 2019. We introduce Devito, a new domain-specific language for implementing high-performance finite-difference partial differential equation solvers. The motivating application is exploration seismology for which methods such as full-waveform inversion and reverse-time migration are used to invert terabytes of seismic data to create images of the Earth's subsurface. Even using modern supercomputers, it can take weeks to process a single seismic survey and create a useful subsurface image. The computational cost is dominated by the numerical solution of wave equations and their corresponding adjoints. Therefore, a great deal of effort is invested in aggressively optimizing the performance of these wave-equation propagators for different computer architectures. Additionally, the actual set of partial differential equations being solved and their numerical discretization is under constant innovation as increasingly realistic representations of the physics are developed, further ratcheting up the cost of practical solvers. By embedding a domain-specific language within Python and making heavy use of SymPy, a symbolic mathematics library, we make it possible to develop finite-difference simulators quickly using a syntax that strongly resembles the mathematics. The Devito compiler reads this code and applies a wide range of analysis to generate highly optimized and parallel code. This approach can reduce the development time of a verified and optimized solver from months to days.
Date Issued
2019-03-27
Date Acceptance
2019-02-04
Citation
Geoscientific Model Development, 2019, 12 (3), pp.1165-1187
ISSN
1991-959X
Start Page
1165
End Page
1187
Journal / Book Title
Geoscientific Model Development
Volume
12
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© 2019 Author(s). This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Sponsor
Argonne National Laboratory
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Grant Number
7F-30084
EP/R029423/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Geology
WAVE-FORM INVERSION
ADJOINT
IMPLEMENTATION
04 Earth Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2019-03-27