This new and updated edition deals with all aspects of Monte Carlo simulation of complex physical systems encountered in condensed-matter physics, statistical mechanics, and related fields. After briefly recalling essential background in statistical mechanics and probability theory, it gives a succinct overview of simple sampling methods. The concepts behind the simulation algorithms are explained comprehensively, as are the techniques for efficient evaluation of system configurations generated by simulation. It contains many applications, examples, and exercises to help the reader and provides many new references to more specialized literature. This edition includes a brief overview of other methods of computer simulation and an outlook for the use of Monte Carlo simulations in disciplines beyond physics. This is an excellent guide for graduate students and researchers who use computer simulations in their research. It can be used as a textbook for graduate courses on computer simulations in physics and related disciplines.
• A broad and self-contained overview of Monte Carlo simulations • Contains extensive cross-referencing between simulation and relevant theory and between applications of similar algorithms in different contexts • Provides many applications, examples, ‘recipes’, and specific case studies
Contents
1. Introduction; 2. Some necessary background; 3. Simple sampling Monte Carlo methods; 4. Importance sampling Monte Carlo methods; 5. More on importance sampling Monte Carlo method for lattice systems; 6. Off-lattice models; 7. Reweighting methods; 8. Quantum Monte Carlo methods; 9. Monte Carlo Renormalization Group methods; 10. Non-equilibrium and irreversible processes; 11. Lattice gauge models: a brief introduction; 12. A brief review of other methods of computer simulation; 13. Monte Carlo methods outside of physics; 14. Outlook.
Reviews
From the first edition: ‘This book will serve as a useful introduction to those entering the field, while for those already versed in the subject it provides a timely survey of what has been achieved.’ Journal of Statistical Physics
'... an excellent guide book...' Zentralblatt MATH
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