Monte Carlo simulations including energy from an entropic force

Several experimental techniques have shown that the primary response of many materials comes from a heterogeneous distribution of independently relaxing nanoscale regions; but most Monte Carlo simulations have homogeneous correlations. Resolving this discrepancy may require including the energy needed to change the configurational entropy, which is often used in theoretical treatments of thermal fluctuations, but not in computer simulations. Here the local configurational entropy is shown to give a nonlinear correction to the Metropolis algorithm that restores conservation of energy, maintains maximum entropy, and yields heterogeneous correlations. The nonlinear correction also improves agreement between Monte Carlo simulations of the Ising model and measurements of specific heat and structural correlations from the Jahn–Teller distortion in LaMnO₃.     

Two-sided bounds on the free energy from local states in Monte Carlo simulations

We show that a precise assessment of free energy estimates in Monte Carlo simulations of lattice models is possible by using cluster variation approximations in conjunction with the local states approximations proposed by Meirovitch. The local states method (LSM) utilizes entropy expressions which recently have been shown to correspond to a converging sequence of upper bounds on the thermodynamic limit entropy density (i.e., entropy per lattice site), whereas the cluster variation method (CVM) supplies formulas that in some cases have been proven to be, and in other cases are believed to be, lower bounds. We have investigated CVM-LSM combinations numerically in Monte Carlo simulations of the two-dimensional Ising model and the two-dimensional five-states ferromagnetic Potts model. Even in the critical region the combination of upper and lower bounds enables an accurate and reliable estimation of the free energy from data of a single run. CVM entropy approximations are therefore useful in Monte Carlo simulation studies and in establishing the reliability of results from local states methods.     

Configurational entropy of adsorbed rigid rods: Theory and Monte Carlo simulations

The configurational entropy of straight rigid rods of length k (k-mers) adsorbed on square, honeycomb, and triangular lattices is studied by combining theory and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations in grand canonical and canonical ensembles. Three theoretical models to treat k-mer adsorption on two-dimensional lattices have been discussed: (i) the Flory-Huggins approximation and its modification to address linear adsorbates; (ii) the well-known Guggenheim-DiMarzio approximation; and (iii) a simple semi-empirical model obtained by combining exact one-dimensional calculations, its extension to higher dimensions and Guggenheim-DiMarzio approach. On the other hand, grand canonical and canonical MC calculations of the configurational entropy were obtained by using a thermodynamic integration technique. In the second case, the method relies upon the definition of an artificial Hamiltonian associated with the system of interest for which the entropy of a reference state can be exactly known. Thermodynamic integration is then applied to calculate the entropy in a given state of the system of interest. Comparisons between MC simulations and theoretical results were used to test the accuracy and reliability of the models studied.     

Thermodynamic properties of water in confined environments: a Monte Carlo study

Monte Carlo simulations of Mercedes-Benz water in a crowded environment were performed. The simulated systems are representative of both composite, porous or sintered materials and living cells with typical matrix packings. We studied the influence of overall temperature as well as the density and size of matrix particles on water density, particle distributions, hydrogen bond formation and thermodynamic quantities. Interestingly, temperature and space occupancy of matrix exhibit a similar effect on water properties following the competition between the kinetic and the potential energy of the system, whereby temperature increases the kinetic and matrix packing decreases the potential contribution. A novel thermodynamic decomposition approach was applied to gain insight into individual contributions of different types of inter-particle interactions. This decomposition proved to be useful and in good agreement with the total thermodynamic quantities especially at higher temperatures and matrix packings, where higher-order potential-energy mixing terms lose their importance.     

Overcoming artificial spatial correlations in simulations of superstructure domain growth with parallel Monte Carlo algorithms

We study the applicability of parallelized/vectorized Monte Carlo (MC) algorithms to the simulation of domain growth in two-dimensional lattice gas models undergoing an ordering process after a rapid quench below an order-disorder transition temperature. As examples we consider models with 2×1 andc(2×2) equilibrium superstructures on the square and rectangular lattices, respectively. We also study the case of phase separation (1×1 islands) on the square lattice. A generalized parallel checkerboard algorithm for Kawasaki dynamics is shown to give rise to artificial spatial correlations in all three models. However, only ifsuperstructure domains evolve do these correlations modify the kinetics by influencing the nucleation process and result in a reduced growth exponent compared to the value from the conventional heat bath algorithm with random single-site updates. In order to overcome these artificial modifications, two MC algorithms with a reduced degree of parallelism (hybrid and mask algorithms, respectively) are presented and applied. As the results indicate, these algorithms are suitable for the simulation of superstructure domain growth on parallel/vector computers.     

Dynamic percolation transition induced by phase separation: A Monte Carlo analysis

The percolation transition of geometric clusters in the three-dimensional, simple cubic, nearest neighbor Ising lattice gas model is investigated in the temperature and concentration region inside the coexistence curve. We consider quenching experiments, where the system starts from an initially completely random configuration (corresponding to equilibrium at infinite temperature), letting the system evolve at the considered temperature according to the Kawasaki spinexchange dynamics. Analyzing the distributionn _l(t) of clusters of sizel at timet, we find that after a time of the order of about 100 Monte Carlo steps per site a percolation transition occurs at a concentration distinctly lower than the percolation concentration of the initial random state. This dynamic percolation transition is analyzed with finite-size scaling methods. While at zero temperature, where the system settles down at a frozen-in cluster distribution and further phase separation stops, the critical exponents associated with this percolation transition are consistent with the universality class of random percolation, the critical behavior of the transient time-dependent percolation occurring at nonzero temperature possibly belongs to a different, new universality class.     

Monte Carlo investigation of the correlation between magnetic and chemical ordering in NiFe alloys

The Ni_xFe_1−x alloys close to the stoichiometric Ni₃Fe composition are modeled by means of Monte Carlo simulations. To describe the atomic and magnetic configurations, the Ising and Heisenberg models with nearest-neighbor interactions have been used, respectively. The pairwise interactions have been fitted to the experimentally measured Curie and Kurnakov temperatures, the Fe-Fe magnetic exchange interaction has been considered antiferromagnetic. The mutual influence of the magnetic and chemical ordering is evidenced and a good agreement with the phase diagram is obtained. Our numerical results show that the magnetic order is able to increase the Kurnakov temperature and, reciprocally, the chemical order is responsible for a rise in the Curie temperature. Also, the influence of the applied magnetic field on the chemical order is investigated and an increase of the Kurnakov temperature with the external field is observed.     

Critical and compensation phenomena in a mixed-spin ternary alloy: A Monte Carlo study

By means of standard and histogram Monte Carlo simulations, we investigate the critical and compensation behaviour of a ternary mixed spin alloy of the type AB_pC_1−p on a cubic lattice. We focus on the case with the parameters corresponding to the Prussian blue analog and confront our findings with those obtained by some approximative approaches and the experiments.     

Monte Carlo simulations of jet quenching in heavy ion collisions

Jet quenching is one of the major discoveries of the heavy-ion program at Rhic. While there is a wealth of data from Rhic that will soon be supplemented with measurements at the Lhc, on the theoretical side the situation is less clear. A thorough understanding of jet quenching is, however, beneficial, as it is expected that medium-induced modifications of jets allow one to characterise properties of the QCD matter produced in heavy ion collisions. This talk aims at summarising the main ideas and concepts of the currently available Monte Carlo models for jet quenching.     

Magnetic properties for cobalt nanorings: Monte Carlo simulation

In this paper, two structure models of cobalt nanoring cells (double-nanorings and four-nanorings, named as D-rings and F-rings, respectively) have been considered. Base on Monte Carlo simulation, the magnetic properties of the D-rings and F-rings, such as hysteresis loops, spin configuration, coercivity, etc., have been studied. The simulated results indicate that both D-rings and F-rings with different inner radius (r) and separation of ring centers (d) display interesting magnetization behavior and spin configurations (onion-, vortex- and crescent shape vortex-type states) in magnetization process. Moreover, it is found that the overlap between the nearest single nanorings connect can result in the deviation of the vortex-type states in the connected regions. Therefore, the appropriate d should be well considered in the design of nanoring device. The simulated results can be explained by the competition between exchange energy and dipolar energy in Co nanorings system. Furthermore, it is found that the simulated temperature dependence of the coercivity for the D-rings with different d can be well described by H_c=H₀ exp[−(T/T₀)^p].     

R32热力学性质的蒙特卡罗模拟

建立在统计热力学和分子力学理论基础上的分子模拟方法逐渐运用于计算制冷剂的热力学性质。文中首先在NVT系综条件下,采用吉布斯蒙特卡罗模拟方法(GEMC),模拟了R32的气液相平衡的密度、饱和蒸汽压及蒸发焓;其次在NPT系综条件下,采用蒙特卡罗模拟方法(MC),模拟了R32在4MPa条件下的过冷液态密度。模拟结果同美国国家标准研究所(NIST)的Refprop 8.0相比,有很好的一致性。结果表明,运用该方法预测单一制冷剂的热力学性质是可行的。     

Advanced multicanonical Monte Carlo methods for efficient simulations of nucleation processes of polymers

The investigation of freezing transitions of single polymers is computationally demanding, since surface effects dominate the nucleation process. In recent studies we have systematically shown that the freezing properties of flexible, elastic polymers depend on the precise chain length. Performing multicanonical Monte Carlo simulations, we faced several computational challenges in connection with liquid–solid and solid–solid transitions. For this reason, we developed novel methods and update strategies to overcome the arising problems. We introduce novel Monte Carlo moves and two extensions to the multicanonical method.     

Monte Carlo study of self-avoiding surfaces

Two models of self-avoiding surfaces on the cubic lattice are studied by Monte Carlo simulations. Both the first model with fluctuating boundary and the second one with a fixed boundary are found to belong to the universality class of branched polymers. The algorithms as well as the methods used to extract the critical exponents are described in detail. The results are compared to other recent estimates in the literature.     

Thermodynamic properties of the Lennard-Jones FCC solid: perturbation theory parameterisation and Monte Carlo simulation

This work is concerned with a valid representation of the solid-phase equation of state (EOS), the validity of which is evaluated by comparing to Monte Carlo (MC) simulation results. The proposed EOS has been developed by employing an optimal division of the Lannard-Jones (LJ) potential and an effective temperature- and density-dependent diameter into the framework of the simplified perturbation theory. Then, with the aim of extending to the chain systems, the conventional chain contribution (i.e. TPT1) is added to the proposed model (i.e. the atomic LJ system). Finally, the solid-state EOS based on Helmholtz free energy will be introduced for low temperature and high density conditions. To verify the accuracy of the proposed model, its performance is compared with the results of MC simulation. The comparison between the obtained results from the proposed model and the MC simulations shows that the EOS can satisfactorily predict the properties of the solid LJ system, both for the atomic system and for the chains.     

Guaranteeing total balance in Metropolis algorithm Monte Carlo simulations

The condition of detailed balance has long been used as a proxy for the more difficult-to-prove condition of total balance, which along with ergodicity is required to guarantee convergence of a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation to the correct probability distribution. However, some simple-to-program update schemes such as the sequential and checkerboard Metropolis algorithms are known not to satisfy detailed balance for such common systems as the Ising model.     

气泡幕后向散射光信号特性的蒙特卡罗方法研究

利用蒙特卡罗方法对水介质中的气泡幕的后向光散射回波信号进行了系统仿真。通过对计算结果与实验结果的比较,证明了蒙特卡罗方法的有效性。根据仿真结果,结合理论分析的方法,对气泡幕位置、厚度和接收器视场角等参数对回波信号的影响进行了分析,结果表明:回波信号出现时间与气泡幕位置存在一一对应的关系;在气泡幕的衰减系数ρσt不变的情况下,存在一个有效气泡幕厚度,当大于该厚度时,气泡幕的后向光散射回波信号基本不变;在系统各项参数不变的情况下,适当增加接收器的视场角,可有效地提高回波信号的信噪比。     

Adsorption in one-dimensional channels arranged in a triangular structure: Theory and Monte Carlo simulations

Adsorption thermodynamics of interacting particles adsorbed on one-dimensional channels arranged in a triangular cross-sectional structure is studied through Bragg-Williams approximation (BWA), Monte Carlo (MC) simulations and the recently reported Effective Substates approximation (ESA) [J.L. Riccardo, G. Zgrablich, W. A. Steele, Appl. Surf. Sci. 196 (2002) 138]. Two kinds of lateral interaction energies have been considered: (1) w_L, interaction energy between nearest-neighbor particles adsorbed along a single channel and (2) w_T, interaction energy between particles adsorbed across nearest-neighbor channels. We focus on the case of repulsive transversal interactions (w_T>0), for which a rich variety of ordered phases are observed in the adlayer, depending on the value of the parameters k_BT/w_T (being k_B the Boltzmann constant) and w_L/w_T. Comparisons between analytical data and MC simulations are performed in order to test the validity of the theoretical models. Appreciable differences can be seen for the different approximations, ESA being the most accurate for all cases.     

Monte Carlo Study of Localization on a One-Dimensional Lattice

We study the equilibrium properties of a single quantum particle interacting with a classical lattice gas. We develop a path-integral formalism in which the quantum particle is represented by a closed, variable-step random walk on the lattice. After demonstrating that a Metropolis algorithm correctly predicts the properties of a free particle, we extend it to investigate the behavior of the quantum particle interacting with the lattice gas. Evidence of weak localization is observed under conditions of quenched disorder, while self-trapping clearly occurs for the fully annealed system. Compared with continuous space systems, convergence of Monte Carlo simulations in this minimum model is orders of magnitude faster in cpu time. Therefore the system behavior can be investigated for a much larger domain of thermodynamic parameters (e.g., density and temperature) in a reasonable time.     

Monte Carlo simulation of the enantioseparation process

By means of Monte Carlo simulation, a study of enantioseparation by capillary electrophoresis has been carried out. A simplified system consisting of two enantiomers S (R) and a selector chiral C, which reacts with the enantiomers to form complexes RC (SC), has been considered. The dependence of Δμ$\Delta \mu$ (enantioseparation) with the concentration of chiral selector and with temperature have been analyzed by simulation. The effect of the binding constant and the charge of the complexes are also analyzed. The results are qualitatively satisfactory, despite the simplicity of the model.     

First-order transition in a 2D classical XY-model using microcanonical Monte Carlo simulations

We have simulated two-dimensional classical XY-model in a microcanonical ensemble using the Monte Carlo technique. Simulations were carried out on a square lattice having 25, 100 or 900-spins with periodic boundary conditions. The nearest neighbour interaction potential was taken to beV(θ)=2J[1−cos¹⁰⁰(θ/2)]. The system energy, mean square magnetization and vortex-density were calculated as functions of temperature. A sudden change in the system energy, vortex density and mean square magnetization was observed at the first-order transition which is associated with this choice of the nearest neighbour interaction potential. The transition temperature increases with decrease in the system size. It is found that the creation of a vortex-antivortex pair costs more energy during the first-order transition than the energy associated with a tightly bound vortex-antivortex pair.