High performance FFT on multicore processors

Importance of achieving high performance Fourier transforms for Cognitive Radio applications can not be over-emphasized. This includes signal detection in the presence of noise power uncertainty, multi-resolution spectrum sensing, minimization of subcarriers' side lobes in OFDM modulators, multi-stream processing, or spectrum loading, for example. With the emergence of advanced multicore processors, there is a remarkable opportunity to develop novel, massively parallel implementations of the FFT. This paper reviews recent advances in the area, and presents results for three classes of devices: the IBM Cell multi-SIMD processor, the Nvidia Tesla SIMT processor, and the EnLight digital optical core device.