Book contents
- A Guide to Monte Carlo Simulations in Statistical Physics
- A Guide to Monte Carlo Simulations in Statistical Physics
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Preface
- 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 methods 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 simulations at the periphery of physics and beyond
- 14 Monte Carlo studies of biological molecules
- 15 Emerging trends
- Index
- References
2 - Some necessary background
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 November 2021
- A Guide to Monte Carlo Simulations in Statistical Physics
- A Guide to Monte Carlo Simulations in Statistical Physics
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Preface
- 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 methods 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 simulations at the periphery of physics and beyond
- 14 Monte Carlo studies of biological molecules
- 15 Emerging trends
- Index
- References
Summary
In this chapter we shall review some of the basic features of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics which will be used later in this book when devising simulation methods and interpreting results. Many good books on this subject exist and we shall not attempt to present a complete treatment. This chapter is hence not intended to replace any textbook for this important field of physics but rather to ‘refresh’ the reader’s knowledge and to draw attention to notions in thermodynamics and statistical mechanics which will henceforth be assumed to be known throughout this book.
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- Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2021