Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
11-2000
Department
Chemistry
Abstract
The approach to the ergodic limit in Monte Carlo simulations is studied using both analytic and numerical methods. With the help of a stochastic model, a metric is defined that enables the examination of a simulation in both the ergodic and nonergodic regimes. In the nonergodic regime, the model implies how the simulation is expected to approach ergodic behavior analytically, and the analytically inferred decay law of the metric allows the monitoring of the onset of ergodic behavior. The metric is related to previously defined measures developed for molecular dynamics simulations, and the metric enables the comparison of the relative efficiencies of different Monte Carlo schemes. Applications to Lennard-Jones 13-particle clusters are shown to match the model for Metropolis, J-walking, and parallel tempering based approaches. The relative efficiencies of these three Monte Carlo approaches are compared, and the decay law is shown to be useful in determining needed high temperature parameters in parallel tempering and J-walking studies of atomic clusters.
PACS number(s): 02.70.Lq, 05.10.Ln
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Neirotti, J. P., Freeman, D. L., & Doll, J. D. (2000). The Approach to Ergodicity in Monte Carlo Simulations. Physical Review E, 62(5B), 7445-7446. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.62.7445
Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.62.7445
Terms of Use
All rights reserved under copyright.
Publisher Statement
©2000 The American Physical Society