Quantum Monte Carlo Methods in Physics and Chemistry / Edition 1

by M.P. Nightingale, Cyrus J. Umrigar

Overview

In recent years there has been a considerable growth in interest in Monte Carlo methods, and quantum Monte Carlo methods in particlular. Clearly, the ever-increasing computational power available to researchers, has stimulated the development of improved algorithms, and almost all fields in computational physics and chemistry are affected by their applications. Here we just mention some fields that are covered in the lecture notes contained in this volume, viz. electronic structure studies of atoms, molecules and solids, nuclear structure, and low- or zero-temperature studies of strongly-correlated quantum systems, both of the continuum and lattice variety, and cooperative phenomena in classical systems. Although each area of application may have its own peculiarities, requiring specialized solutions, all share the same basic methodology. It was with the intention of bringing together researchers and students from these various areas that the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Quantum Monte Carlo Methods in Physics and Chemistry was held at Cornell University from 12 to 24 July, 1998. This book contains material presented at the Institute in a series of mini courses in quantum Monte Carlo methods. The program consisted of lectures predominantly of a pedagogical nature, and of more specialized seminars. The levels varied from introductory to advanced, and from basic methods to applications; the program was intended for an audience working towards the Ph.D. level and above. Despite the essentially pedagogic nature of the Institute, several of the lectures and seminars contained in this volume present recent developments not previously published.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780792355519
Publisher:	Springer Netherlands
Publication date:	12/31/1998
Series:	Nato Science Series C: , #525
Edition description:	1999
Pages:	467
Product dimensions:	6.69(w) x 9.61(h) x 0.04(d)

Table of Contents

1 Basics, quantum Monte Carlo and statistical mechanics.- 2 Shastic diagonalization.- 3 World-line quantum Monte Carlo.- 4 Variational Monte Carlo in solids.- 5 Variational Monte Carlo basics and applications to atoms and molecules.- 6 Calculations of exchange frequencies with path integral Monte Carlo: solid 3He adsorbed on graphite.- 7 Static response of homogeneous quantum fluids by diffusion Monte Carlo.- 8 Equilibrium and dynamical path integral methods: an introduction.- 9 Diffusion Monte Carlo.- 10 Fermion Monte Carlo.- 11 Quantum Monte Carlo in nuclear physics.- 12 Reptation quantum Monte Carlo: a round-trip tour from classical diffusion to quantum mechanics.- 13 Quantum Monte Carlo for lattice fermions.- 14 Phase separation in the 2D Hubbard model: a challenging application of fixed-node QMC.- 15 Constrained path Monte Carlo for fermions.- 16 Serial and parallel random number generation.- 17 Fixed-node DMC for fermions on a lattice: application to doped fullerides.- 18 Index.

Editorial Reviews

Contains material presented in a series of mini-courses at a July 1998 NATO advanced study institute. Although the program is primarily pedagogic in nature, several of the lectures present recent developments not previously published. Among the techniques reviewed in the 17 contributions are stochastic diagonalization, variational Monte Carlo in solids, static response of homogenous quantum fluids by diffusion Monte Carlo, equilibrium and dynamical path integral methods, fermion Monte Carlo, quantum Monte Carlo in nuclear physics, and serial and parallel random number generation. This volume is a companion to . Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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