Formal specification of SIMD execution

In this paper we discuss the formal specification of parallel SIMD execution. We outline a vector model to describe SIMD execution which forms the basis of a semantic definition for a simple SIMD language definition. The model is based upon the notion of atomic parallel SIMD instructions operating on vectors of size /spl Pi/ where /spl Pi/ is the number of PEs on the machine. The vector model for parallel SIMD execution is independent of any specific computing architecture and can define parallel SIMD execution on a real SIMD machine (with a limited number of PEs) or a SIMD simulation. The model enables the formal specification of SIMD languages by providing an underlying mathematical framework for the SIMD paradigm.