Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
11-22-2003
Department
Chemistry
Abstract
We perform a thorough analysis on the choice of estimators for random series path integral methods. In particular, we show that both the thermodynamic (T-method)and the direct (H-method)energy estimators have finite variances and are straightforward to implement. It is demonstrated that the agreement between the T-method and the H-method estimators provides an important consistency check on the quality of the path integral simulations. We illustrate the behavior of the various estimators by computing the total, kinetic, and potential energies of a molecular hydrogen cluster using three different path integral techniques. Statistical tests are employed to validate the sampling strategy adopted as well as to measure the performance of the parallel random number generator utilized in the Monte Carlo simulation. Some issues raised by previous simulations of the hydrogen cluster are clarified.
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Predescu, C., Sabo, D., Doll, J. D., & Freeman, D. L. (2003). Energy Estimators for Random Series Path-Integral Methods. Journal of Chemical Physics, 119(20), 10475-10488. doi: 10.1063/1.1619372
Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1619372
Terms of Use
All rights reserved under copyright.
Publisher Statement
© 2003 American Institute of Physics.