Optimization Techniques for Solving Complex Problems

CHAPTER 19

Application of Cellular Automata Algorithms to the Parallel Simulation of Laser Dynamics

J. L. GUISADO and F. JIMÉNEZ-MORALES

Universidad de Sevilla, Spain

J. M. GUERRA

Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain

F. FERNÁNDEZ

Universidad de Extremadura, Spain

19.1 INTRODUCTION

In this chapter we review the use of a biologically inspired heuristic technique—cellular automata (CA)—as a problem solver for one of the most paradigmatic complex systems: the laser. CAs are a class of mathematical system that can be used to model spatiotemporal phenomena, characterized by the discreteness of all of its variables: space, time, and normally state variables. An important property of CAs is their intrinsic parallel character. Therefore, they are specially well suited to be implemented very efficiently on parallel computers.

In this work we also exploit this property to carry out a parallel implementation of the CA model developed for laser dynamics. In addition, we study the performance and scalability of this parallel implementation and conclude that it is very satisfactory. In particular, we have described a CA-based algorithm which is an alternative to model the dynamics of lasers, normally modeled using differential equations. This approach can be very useful for modeling lasers in situations in which the differential equations are difficult to integrate, or even difficult to apply: ...