Programming cellular automata algorithms on parallel computers

A high-level programming support is an essential component for the practica l development of computational science applications using the cellular auto mata model. This paper, after introducing the CARPET language, shows its pr actical use for programming cellular automata simulations on parallel compu ters. CARPET is a high-level language designed for supporting rapid prototy ping and full implementation of a large number of science and engineering a pplications on high-performance computers. The language provides a user wit h a programming layer that offers constructs for the direct definition of t he cellular automata features such as lattice dimension, cell state, neighb orhood, and transition function. The CARPET parallel run-time system maps C A programs on a parallel computer hiding the architecture issues to a user and it provides advanced visualization of program's output. The paper descr ibes how practical cellular automata algorithms for lattice gas, gas diffus ion simulation, and traffic flow modeling can be designed using the CARPET programming language. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.