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Astrophysical N-body simulations: algorithms and challenges

Rainer Spurzem
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Abstract

The subjects and key questions faced by computational astrophysics using N-body simulations are discussed in the fields of globular star cluster dynamics, galactic nuclei and cosmological structure formation. After a comparison of the relevance of different N-body algorithms a new concept for a more flexible customized special purpose computer based on a combination of GRAPE and FPGA is proposed. It is an ideal machine for all kinds of N-body simulations using neighbour schemes, as the Ahmad-Cohen direct N-body codes and smoothed particle hydrodynamics for systems including gas.

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Rainer Spurzem. 1997-11-20. Astrophysical N-body simulations: algorithms and challenges. https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9711238

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