Replica Monte Carlo simulation (revisited)

Abstract

In 1986, Swendsen and Wang proposed a replica Monte Carlo algorithm for Ising spin glasses [Phys. Rev. Lett. 57 (1986), 2607]. Two important ingredients are present, (1) the use of a collection of systems (replicas) at different temperatures, but with the same random couplings, (2) defining and flipping clusters. Exchange of information between the systems is facilitated by fixing the τ spin (τ = σ1σ2) and flipping the two neighboring systems simultaneously. In this talk, we discuss this algorithm and its relationship to replica exchange (also known as parallel tempering) and Houdayer's cluster algorithm for spin glasses. We review some of the early results obtained using this algorithm. We also present new results for the correlation times of replica Monte Carlo dynamics in two and three dimensions and compare them with replica exchange.