GPU acceleration of first-principles electronic structure calculation software OpenMX and its application to modified-DNA

Kawai, Hiroyuki*; Sekikawa, Takuya; Ozaki, Taisuke*; Furuya, Shinnosuke*; Ono, Yoshiaki*

First-principles electronic structure calculation software OpenMX is a calculation code based on density functional theory, and is mainly used to obtain the most stable structures and electronic states of materials. In this study, we attempted to develop a method to accelerate OpenMX calculations using a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), which is usually used for image processing, and succeeded in reducing the calculation time to about one-half of that using the same number of CPUs in a benchmark calculation on DNA. The benchmark calculation on DNA succeeded in reducing the calculation time by about one-half compared to the same number of CPUs. We then applied the method developed in this study to modified-DNA (DNA in which some of the atoms constituting a base pair are replaced with transition metals or organic molecules), which has been investigated using OpenMX, and verified the degree of speed-up. Details of the obtained modified-DNA, including its electronic state, will be presented on the day.