temet 0.9.0__tar.gz → 0.9.1__tar.gz

{temet-0.9.0 → temet-0.9.1}/.github/workflows/pypi.yaml

@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Build release sdist
         run: |
           python -m pip install build
-          python -m build
+          python -m build --sdist
 
       - name: Upload sdist
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4

{temet-0.9.0 → temet-0.9.1}/PKG-INFO

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 Metadata-Version: 2.4
 Name: temet
-Version: 0.9.0
+Version: 0.9.1
 Summary: temet simulation analysis framework.
 Keywords: astronomy,simulation,cosmology,astrophysics
 Author-Email: Dylan Nelson <dnelson@uni-heidelberg.de>
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ Classifier: Programming Language :: Python :: 3
 Classifier: Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11
 Classifier: Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12
 Classifier: Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13
+Classifier: Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14
 Classifier: Topic :: Scientific/Engineering :: Astronomy
 Classifier: Topic :: Scientific/Engineering :: Physics
 Project-URL: Homepage, https://www.github.com/dnelson/temet/

{temet-0.9.0 → temet-0.9.1}/docs/index.rst

@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 temet toolkit: documentation
 ============================
 
-Welcome to the documentation for **temet**, a python toolkit for the execution, analysis, and 
+Welcome to the documentation for **temet** (`github repo <https://github.com/dnelson/temet>`_), 
+a python toolkit for the execution, analysis, and 
 visualization of numerical simulations. Specifically, hydrodynamical simulations run with the 
 `AREPO <https://wwwmpa.mpa-garching.mpg.de/~volker/arepo/>`_ moving mesh code, as well as codes 
 producing similarly structured outputs including 

{temet-0.9.0 → temet-0.9.1}/docs/installation.rst

@@ -60,6 +60,11 @@ anywhere, but are used as is. Any changes you make are reflected (i.e. immediate
 Download Data Files
 -------------------
 
+.. note::
+
+   When you ``import temet`` for the first time, you will be reminded to download these data files.
+
+
 Several large tabulated data files are used to compute e.g. stellar luminosities (from FSPS), ion abundances and emissivities (from CLOUDY), and X-ray emission (from APEC/XPSEC). For convenience these can be downloaded as
 
 .. code-block:: bash
@@ -76,7 +81,11 @@ The default plotting style uses the Roboto font. To install this font locally, d
     wget https://github.com/google/fonts/raw/main/apache/roboto/static/Roboto-Light.ttf
     wget https://github.com/google/fonts/raw/main/apache/roboto/static/Roboto-LightItalic.ttf
 
-Note: on MPCDF machines, suggested organization of simulation directories is as follows
+
+Organizing Simulation Folders
+-----------------------------
+
+On MPCDF machines (and the TNG Lab), we suggest organization of simulation directories as follows
 
 .. code-block:: bash
 
@@ -91,6 +100,8 @@ the last two lines create symlinks to the actual output directory where the simu
 (``groupcat_*`` and ``snapdir_*``) reside, as well as to the postprocessing directory (containing ``trees``, etc).
 Replace as needed with the actual path on your machine.
 
+This allows many "known" simulations to be loaded by name only.
+
 
 External Package Installation
 -----------------------------

{temet-0.9.0 → temet-0.9.1}/pyproject.toml

@@ -10,11 +10,11 @@ packages = [
 ]
 
 [tool.setuptools.package-data]
-temet = ["temet/plot/mpl.style", "temet/util/*.cpp"]
+temet = ["temet/plot/mpl.style", "temet/util/*.cpp", "temet/tables/fonts/*.ttf"]
 
 [project]
 name = "temet"
-version = "0.9.0"
+version = "0.9.1"
 authors = [
     { name="Dylan Nelson", email="dnelson@uni-heidelberg.de" },
 ]
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ classifiers = [
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13",
+    "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14",
     "Topic :: Scientific/Engineering :: Astronomy",
     "Topic :: Scientific/Engineering :: Physics",
 ]

{temet-0.9.0 → temet-0.9.1}/temet/__init__.py

@@ -3,7 +3,10 @@
 __all__ = ["ICs", "catalog", "cosmo", "load", "obs", "plot", "spectra", "tracer", "util", "vis"]
 # currently exclude "ML" to avoid torch* dependencies
 # exclude "projects" as this is example/user code
-
 from temet import ICs, catalog, cosmo, load, obs, plot, spectra, tracer, util, vis
 
 from .util.simParams import simParams as sim
+
+
+# check for data tables/ download
+util.extern.check_data_tables()

{temet-0.9.0 → temet-0.9.1}/temet/catalog/box.py

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import numpy as np
 from ..cosmo import hydrogen
 from ..cosmo.cloudy import cloudyIon
 from ..cosmo.hydrogen import calculateCDDF
-from ..util.helper import numPartToChunkLoadSize, reportMemory
+from ..util.helper import num_cpus, numPartToChunkLoadSize, reportMemory
 
 
 def wholeBoxColDensGrid(sP, pSplit, species, gridSize=None, onlySFR=False, allSFR=False):
@@ -176,6 +176,14 @@ def wholeBoxColDensGrid(sP, pSplit, species, gridSize=None, onlySFR=False, allSF
             # SFR>0 gas has a fraction=1 of the given species
             assert species in preCompSpecies  # otherwise handle
 
+        # determine parallelism (high memory load)
+        nThreads = min(num_cpus() // 2, 8)
+        if boxGridDim > 60000:
+            nThreads = nThreads // 2
+        if boxGridDim > 100000:
+            nThreads = nThreads // 2
+        nThreads = max(nThreads, 1)
+
         if species in hDensSpecies:
             # calculate atomic hydrogen mass (HI) or total neutral hydrogen mass (HI+H2) [10^10 Msun/h]
             atomic = species == "HI" or species == "HI2" or species == "HI3"
@@ -196,6 +204,7 @@ def wholeBoxColDensGrid(sP, pSplit, species, gridSize=None, onlySFR=False, allSF
                 nPixels=boxGridDim,
                 sP=sP,
                 colDens=True,
+                nThreads=nThreads,
                 sliceFac=boxWidthFrac,
             )
 
@@ -235,6 +244,7 @@ def wholeBoxColDensGrid(sP, pSplit, species, gridSize=None, onlySFR=False, allSF
                 nPixels=boxGridDim,
                 sP=sP,
                 colDens=True,
+                nThreads=nThreads,
                 sliceFac=boxWidthFrac,
             )
 
@@ -242,12 +252,6 @@ def wholeBoxColDensGrid(sP, pSplit, species, gridSize=None, onlySFR=False, allSF
 
         if species in preCompSpecies:
             # anything directly loaded from the snapshots, return in units of [10^10 Msun * h / ckpc^2]
-            nThreads = 8
-            if boxGridDim > 60000:
-                nThreads = 4
-            if boxGridDim > 100000:
-                nThreads = 2
-
             if allSFR:
                 w = np.where(gas["StarFormationRate"] > 0)
                 gas[species][w] = gas["Masses"][w]
@@ -278,6 +282,7 @@ def wholeBoxColDensGrid(sP, pSplit, species, gridSize=None, onlySFR=False, allSF
                 nPixels=boxGridDim,
                 sP=sP,
                 colDens=False,
+                nThreads=nThreads,
                 sliceFac=boxWidthFrac,
             )
 
@@ -293,6 +298,7 @@ def wholeBoxColDensGrid(sP, pSplit, species, gridSize=None, onlySFR=False, allSF
                 nPixels=boxGridDim,
                 sP=sP,
                 colDens=False,
+                nThreads=nThreads,
                 sliceFac=boxWidthFrac,
             )
 

{temet-0.9.0 → temet-0.9.1}/temet/cosmo/cloudy.py

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import numpy as np
 from scipy.ndimage import map_coordinates
 
 from ..cosmo.cloudyGrid import basePath, getEmissionLines
-from ..util.helper import closest, iterable, pSplitRange
+from ..util.helper import closest, iterable, num_cpus, pSplitRange
 
 
 class cloudyIon:
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ class cloudyIon:
               "XXIX": 29, "XXX": 30, "XXXI": 31}  # fmt: skip
     _romanInv = {v: k for k, v in _roman.items()}
 
-    def __init__(self, sP, el=None, res="lg_c17", redshiftInterp=False, order=3):
+    def __init__(self, sP, el=None, res="lg_c23", redshiftInterp=False, order=3):
         """Load the table, optionally only for a given element(s)."""
         if sP is None:
             return  # instantiate only for misc methods
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ class cloudyIon:
         if temp is None:
             return self.grid["temp"], locData[i0, i1, i2, :]
 
-    def frac(self, element, ionNum, dens, metal, temp, redshift=None, nThreads=16):
+    def frac(self, element, ionNum, dens, metal, temp, redshift=None, nThreads=None):
         """Interpolate the ion abundance table, return log(ionization fraction).
 
         Input gas properties can be scalar or np.array(), in which case they must have the same size.
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ class cloudyIon:
           temp (ndarrray): temperature [log K]
           metal (ndarray): metallicity [log solar]
           redshift (float or None): redshift, if we are interpolating in redshift space.
-          nThreads (int): number of threads to use for interpolation (1=serial).
+          nThreads (int): number of threads to use for interpolation (1=serial). if None, automatically determine.
 
         Return:
           ndarray: ionization fraction per cell [log].
@@ -394,6 +394,10 @@ class cloudyIon:
         element = self._resolveElementNames(element)
         ionNum = self._resolveIonNumbers(ionNum)
 
+        if nThreads is None:
+            # determine automatically
+            nThreads = min(num_cpus() // 4, 16)  # half of available, at most 36
+
         if redshift is not None and not self.redshiftInterp:
             raise Exception("Redshift input for interpolation, but we have selected nearest hyperslice.")
         if redshift is None and self.redshiftInterp:

{temet-0.9.0 → temet-0.9.1}/temet/cosmo/cloudyGrid.py

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import h5py
 import numpy as np
 
 from ..cosmo import hydrogen
-from ..util.helper import closest, logZeroNaN, rootPath
+from ..util.helper import closest, logZeroNaN, num_cpus, rootPath
 from ..util.simParams import simParams
 
 
@@ -714,10 +714,14 @@ def _getRhoTZzGrid(res, uvb):
     return densities, temps, metals, redshifts
 
 
-def runGrid(redshiftInd, nThreads=71, res="lg", uvb="FG11"):
+def runGrid(redshiftInd, nThreads=None, res="lg", uvb="FG11"):
     """Run a sequence of CLOUDY models over a parameter grid at a redshift (one redshift per job)."""
     import multiprocessing as mp
 
+    if nThreads is None:
+        # determine automatically
+        nThreads = num_cpus() - 1  # leave just one core free
+
     # config
     densities, temps, metals, redshifts = _getRhoTZzGrid(res=res, uvb=uvb)
 

{temet-0.9.0 → temet-0.9.1}/temet/cosmo/stellarPop.py

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from numba import jit
 from scipy.interpolate import interp1d
 from scipy.ndimage import map_coordinates
 
-from ..util.helper import iterable, logZeroMin, logZeroNaN, rootPath, trapsum
+from ..util.helper import iterable, logZeroMin, logZeroNaN, num_cpus, rootPath, trapsum
 from ..util.rotation import rotateCoordinateArray, rotationMatrixFromVec
 from ..util.simParams import simParams
 from ..util.sphMap import sphMap
@@ -1263,7 +1263,8 @@ class sps:
         pxSizeCode = self.sP.units.physicalKpcToCodeLength(pxSize)
         nPixels = np.int32(np.ceil(extentStars / pxSizeCode))[0:2]
 
-        nThreads = 8
+        # determine automatically
+        nThreads = min(num_cpus(), 8)  # all available, at most 8
 
         if pos_in.shape[0] < 1e3 and pos_stars_in.shape[0] < 1e3:
             nThreads = 4

{temet-0.9.0 → temet-0.9.1}/temet/plot/__init__.py

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """Plotting routines."""
 
 import pathlib
+from importlib import resources
 
 import matplotlib
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
@@ -21,7 +22,17 @@ from . import (
 )
 
 
+# set default (non-interactive) backend
 matplotlib.use("Agg")
 
+# set default style
 style_path = pathlib.Path(__file__).parent.resolve()
 plt.style.use(str(style_path / "mpl.style"))
+
+# add fonts
+try:
+    font_path = resources.files("temet") / "tables" / "fonts"
+    for font_file in font_path.iterdir():
+        matplotlib.font_manager.fontManager.addfont(font_file)
+except FileNotFoundError:
+    pass

{temet-0.9.0 → temet-0.9.1}/temet/plot/mpl.style

@@ -90,8 +90,7 @@ font.size           : 14
 #font.serif          : Times New Roman, Bitstream Vera Serif, New Century Schoolbook, Century Schoolbook L, Utopia, ITC Bookman, Bookman, Nimbus Roman No9 L, Times, Palatino, Charter, serif
 #font.sans-serif     : Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Bitstream Vera Sans, Lucida Grande, Geneva, Lucid, Avant Garde, sans-serif
 
-font.sans-serif      : Roboto
-#Open Sans, Arial, Helvetica, Bitstream Vera Sans, Bebas Neue
+font.sans-serif      : Roboto, Open Sans, Helvetica, Bitstream Vera Sans, Arial
 
 #font.cursive        : Apple Chancery, Textile, Zapf Chancery, Sand, Script MT, Felipa, cursive
 #font.fantasy        : Comic Sans MS, Chicago, Charcoal, Impact, Western, Humor Sans, fantasy

{temet-0.9.0 → temet-0.9.1}/temet/spectra/spectrum.py

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ from ..spectra.util import (
     sP_units_Mpc_in_cm,
     varconvolve,
 )
-from ..util.helper import pSplitRange
+from ..util.helper import num_cpus, pSplitRange
 from ..util.voronoiRay import rayTrace
 
 
@@ -563,6 +563,12 @@ def generate_spectra_from_saved_rays(
             print(" already exists, skipping...")
             continue
 
+        # hack: enforce pinned cloudy ion table version
+        from inspect import signature
+
+        table_ver = signature(cloudyIon.__init__).parameters["res"].default
+        assert table_ver == "lg_c17", "Stop. For production mockspec use, change back to 'lg_c17' in cloudyIon init."
+
         # do we not already have the ion density loaded?
         if densField is None or lines[line]["ion"] != lines[lineNames[0]]["ion"]:
             densField = "%s numdens" % lines[line]["ion"]
@@ -980,7 +986,7 @@ def create_spectra_from_traced_rays(
     cell_dens,
     cell_temp,
     cell_vellos,
-    nThreads=60,
+    nThreads=None,
 ):
     """Generate a fullset of mock absorption spectra given the pre-existing set of rays.
 
@@ -1001,10 +1007,15 @@ def create_spectra_from_traced_rays(
       cell_vellos (array[float]): gas per-cell line of sight velocities [linear km/s]
       z_lengths (array[float]): the comoving distance to each z_vals relative to sP.redshift [pMpc]
       z_vals (array[float]): a sampling of redshifts, starting at sP.redshift
-      nThreads (int): parallelize calculation using this threads (serial computation if one)
+      nThreads (int): if >1, do multithreaded calculation.
+        if None, determine automatically from available CPU count. If 1, do single-threaded calculation.
     """
     n_rays = rays_len.size
 
+    if nThreads is None:
+        # determine automatically
+        nThreads = min(int(num_cpus() * 0.9), 64)  # 90% of available, at most 64
+
     # line properties
     f, gamma, wave0, ion_amu, ion_mass = line_params(line)
 

{temet-0.9.0 → temet-0.9.1}/temet/tables/.gitignore

@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 # Ignore everything in this directory
 *
-# Except this file
+
+# Except this file and fonts/
 !.gitignore
+!fonts/
+!fonts/*

{temet-0.9.0 → temet-0.9.1}/temet/util/__init__.py

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from . import (
     boxRemap,
     dataConvert,
     dataConvertSim,
-    gfmExternalFiles,
+    extern,
     helper,
     match,
     rotation,

temet-0.9.0/temet/util/gfmExternalFiles.py → temet-0.9.1/temet/util/extern.py

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-"""Create external data files required for GFM runs (photometrics, cooling, etc)."""
+"""Create/use/handle external data files."""
 
 import glob
 
@@ -6,6 +6,42 @@ import h5py
 import numpy as np
 
 
+def check_data_tables():
+    """Check for existence of data tables, prompt to download if not present."""
+    import pathlib
+    from importlib import resources
+
+    tables_path = resources.files("temet.tables")
+    tables_contents = list(tables_path.iterdir())
+
+    has_asked = any(x.name == ".asked" for x in tables_contents)
+
+    if len(tables_contents) != 2 or has_asked:
+        # tables/ does not contain only ".gitignore" and "fonts/" i.e has been modified
+        return
+
+    # check for existence at local path
+    path = tables_contents[0].parent
+    local_path = "/usr/local/share/temet/tables"
+
+    if pathlib.Path(local_path).exists():
+        print(f"First time importing temet. Will link to and use data tables on local path [{local_path}].")
+        # symlink to local path
+        path.rename(path.with_suffix(".bak"))
+        path.symlink_to(local_path, target_is_directory=True)
+
+        return
+
+    # no data yet, ask to download
+    (tables_path / ".asked").touch()
+
+    print("First time importing temet. Suggest to download data tables (~7 GB). To do so (see docs):")
+    cmd = "wget -r -nH --cut-dirs=1 --no-parent --reject='index.html*' -e robots=off temet.tng-project.org/tables/"
+
+    print(" [1] cd " + str(path))
+    print(" [2] " + cmd)
+
+
 def makeStellarPhotometricsHDF5_BC03():
     """Create stellar_photometrics.hdf5 file using BC03 models, as used for Illustris and IllustrisTNG runs.
 

{temet-0.9.0 → temet-0.9.1}/temet/util/helper.py

@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ General helper functions, small algorithms, basic I/O, etc.
 """
 
 import collections.abc as collections
+import multiprocessing
+import os
 from functools import wraps
 from hashlib import sha256
 from inspect import getsource
@@ -169,6 +171,19 @@ def reportMemory():
     return process.memory_info().rss / 1024.0**3  # GB
 
 
+def num_cpus():
+    """Return number of available CPUs, or the number that should be used, whichever is smaller."""
+    N = os.getenv("OMP_NUM_THREADS", None)
+
+    if N is None:
+        N = multiprocessing.cpu_count()
+
+    N = int(N)
+    assert N >= 1
+
+    return N
+
+
 def numPartToChunkLoadSize(numPart):
     """For a given snapshot size, in terms of total particle count, decide on a good chunk loading size.
 

{temet-0.9.0 → temet-0.9.1}/temet/util/simParams.py

@@ -373,21 +373,19 @@ class simParams:
         )
         # return self.__dict__ == other.__dict__
 
-    def scan_simulation(self, inputPath, simName=None):
-        """Fill simulation parameters automatically, based on path."""
-        self.arepoPath = os.path.expanduser(inputPath)
-        self.simPath = os.path.join(self.arepoPath, "output/")
-
-        assert os.path.exists(self.arepoPath), "Error: Simulation path [%s] not found!" % self.arepoPath
-        assert os.path.exists(self.simPath), "Error: Simulation path [%s] not found!" % self.simPath
-
+    def _set_deriv_path(self):
+        """Determine a suitable derivPath (for all derived data files) that is writeable."""
         derivPath = os.path.join(self.arepoPath, "data.files/")
         writable = os.access(self.arepoPath, os.W_OK)
 
         if writable or (os.path.isdir(derivPath) and os.access(derivPath, os.W_OK)):
-            # either we want to be able to create a cache folder in the arepoPath
-            # or at least being able for an existing cache folder
+            # either we want to be able to create the folder, or be able to write to an existing folder
             self.derivPath = derivPath
+
+            # create it if it doesn't exist already
+            if not path.isdir(self.derivPath):
+                p = Path(self.derivPath)
+                p.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
         else:
             # otherwise we create a new cache folder in the home folder of the user
             sha = hashlib.sha256()
@@ -400,6 +398,27 @@ class simParams:
             with open(os.path.join(p, "simpath.txt"), "w") as f:
                 f.write(self.arepoPath)
 
+        # set cache/ path and create directory if it doesn't exist
+        self.cachePath = self.derivPath + "cache/"
+
+        if not path.isdir(self.cachePath):
+            mkdir(self.cachePath)
+
+    def scan_simulation(self, inputPath, simName=None):
+        """Fill simulation parameters automatically, based on path."""
+        self.arepoPath = os.path.expanduser(inputPath)
+
+        if self.arepoPath.endswith("output/"):
+            # convention: arepoPath is the sim root directory, while simPath is the output/ directory (with snapshots)
+            self.arepoPath = self.arepoPath[: -len("output/")]
+
+        self.simPath = os.path.join(self.arepoPath, "output/")
+
+        assert os.path.exists(self.arepoPath), "Error: Simulation path [%s] not found!" % self.arepoPath
+        assert os.path.exists(self.simPath), "Error: Simulation path [%s] not found!" % self.simPath
+
+        self._set_deriv_path()
+
         self.postPath = os.path.join(self.arepoPath, "postprocessing/")
 
         self.simName = simName
@@ -1466,24 +1485,16 @@ class simParams:
             raise Exception("Invalid resolution.")
 
         self.simPath = self.arepoPath + "output/"
-        self.derivPath = self.arepoPath + "data.files/"
         self.postPath = self.arepoPath + "postprocessing/"
-        self.cachePath = self.arepoPath + "data.files/cache/"
 
-        if self.simNameAlt == "":
-            self.simNameAlt = self.simName
-
-        if not path.isdir(self.simPath) and not path.isdir(self.derivPath):
+        # check if simulation exists
+        if not path.isdir(self.simPath):
             raise Exception("simParams: it appears [%s] does not exist." % self.arepoPath)
 
-        # if data.files/ doesn't exist but postprocessing does (e.g. dev runs), use postprocessing/ for all
-        if not path.isdir(self.derivPath):
-            self.derivPath = self.postPath
-            self.cachePath = self.postPath + "cache/"
-        else:
-            # if cache/ doesn't exist, make it
-            if not path.isdir(self.cachePath):
-                mkdir(self.cachePath)
+        self._set_deriv_path()
+
+        if self.simNameAlt == "":
+            self.simNameAlt = self.simName
 
         # if wwwrun user, override derivPath with a local filesystem cache location
         if getpass.getuser() == "wwwrun":

{temet-0.9.0 → temet-0.9.1}/temet/util/sphMap.py

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import threading
 import numpy as np
 from numba import jit
 
-from ..util.helper import pSplit
+from ..util.helper import num_cpus, pSplit
 
 
 @jit(nopython=True, nogil=True, cache=True)
@@ -1090,7 +1090,7 @@ def sphMap(
     ndims,
     hsml_1=None,
     colDens=False,
-    nThreads=16,
+    nThreads=None,
     multi=False,
     posTarget=None,
     maxIntProj=False,
@@ -1121,7 +1121,8 @@ def sphMap(
       hsml_1 (ndarray[float][N]): if not None, do asymmetric sph kernel projection with
         ``hsml==hsml_0`` (x), and ``hsml_1`` (y).
       colDens (bool): if True, normalize each grid value by its area (default=False).
-      nThreads (int): do multithreaded calculation (mem required=nThreads times more).
+      nThreads (int): if >1, do multithreaded calculation (mem required=nThreads times more).
+        if None, determine automatically from available CPU count. If 1, do single-threaded calculation.
       multi (bool): if True, return the tuple (dens,quant) instead of selecting one, under the
         assumption that we are using sphMap() in a chunked mode and have to normalize later.
       posTarget (ndarray[float][N,3]): array of 3-coordinates for a set of targets (e.g. star particle
@@ -1207,6 +1208,10 @@ def sphMap(
         assert hsml_1 is None  # not supported
         assert maxIntProj is False and minIntProj is False  # doesn't make sense
 
+    if nThreads is None:
+        # determine automatically
+        nThreads = min(num_cpus() // 2, 36)  # half of available, at most 36
+
     # _calcSphMapTargets() mode?
     nTargets = 0
 
@@ -1444,7 +1449,7 @@ def sphMap(
 
 
 def sphMapWholeBox(
-    pos, hsml, mass, quant, axes, nPixels, sP, colDens=False, nThreads=8, multi=False, posTarget=None, sliceFac=1.0
+    pos, hsml, mass, quant, axes, nPixels, sP, colDens=False, nThreads=None, multi=False, posTarget=None, sliceFac=1.0
 ):
     """Wrap sphMap() specialized to projecting an entire cosmological/periodic box (or subbox).
 
@@ -1454,6 +1459,10 @@ def sphMapWholeBox(
     boxSizeImg = sP.boxSize * np.array([1.0, 1.0, 1.0 * sliceFac])
     boxCen = sP.boxSize * np.array([0.5, 0.5, 0.5])
 
+    if nThreads is None:
+        # determine automatically
+        nThreads = min(num_cpus() // 2, 36)  # half of available, at most 36
+
     if sP.isSubbox:
         boxSizeImg = sP.subboxSize[sP.subbox] * np.array([1.0, 1.0, 1.0 * sliceFac])
         boxCen = sP.subboxCen[sP.subbox]