GPU accelerated Monte Carlo simulations of lattice spin models

Abstract

We consider Monte Carlo simulations of classical spin models of statistical mechanics using the massively parallel architecture provided by graphics processing units (GPUs). We discuss simulations of models with discrete and continuous variables, and using an array of algorithms ranging from single-spin flip Metropolis updates over cluster algorithms to multicanonical and Wang-Landau techniques to judge the scope and limitations of GPU accelerated computation in this field. For most simulations discussed, we find significant speed-ups by two to three orders of magnitude as compared to single-threaded CPU implementations.