Selection on rectangular meshes with multiple broadcasting

One of the fundamental algorithmic problems in computer science involves selecting thekth smallest element in a setS ofn elements. In this paper we present a fast selection algorithm which runs inO(n ^1/8 logn) time on a mesh with multiple broadcasting of sizen ^3/8 ×n ^5/8. Our result shows that, just like semigroup computations, selection can be done much faster on a suitably chosen rectangular mesh than on square meshes. We also show that if every processor can storen ^1/9 items, then our selection algorithm runs inO(n ^1/9 logn) time on a mesh with multiple broadcasting of sizen ^1/3 ×n ^5/9.Work supported by NASA under grant NCC1-99.This author was partly supported by NSF grant CCR-8009996.