Parallel computing, benchmarking and ATLAS software on ARM

Includes bibliographical references,This thesis explores the use of the ARM architecture in high energy physics computing. ARM processors are predominantly found in smartphones and mobile tablets. Results from benchmarks which were performed on the armv7l architecture are presented. These provide qualitative data as well as confirmation that specialized high energy physics software does run on ARM. This thesis presents the first ever port of the ATLAS software stack to the ARM architecture, as well as the issues that ensued. A new framework, ANA, is introduced which facilitates the compilation of the ATLAS software stack on ARM