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Main Authors: Maes, Vince, Bossuyt, Ignace, Vandecasteele, Hannes, Dekeyser, Wouter, Koellermeier, Julian, Baelmans, Martine, Samaey, Giovanni
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.00315
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author Maes, Vince
Bossuyt, Ignace
Vandecasteele, Hannes
Dekeyser, Wouter
Koellermeier, Julian
Baelmans, Martine
Samaey, Giovanni
author_facet Maes, Vince
Bossuyt, Ignace
Vandecasteele, Hannes
Dekeyser, Wouter
Koellermeier, Julian
Baelmans, Martine
Samaey, Giovanni
contents Large particle systems are often described by high-dimensional (linear) kinetic equations that are simulated using Monte Carlo methods for which the asymptotic convergence rate is independent of the dimensionality. Even though the asymptotic convergence rate is known, predicting the actual value of the statistical error remains a challenging problem. In this paper, we show how the statistical error of an analog particle tracing Monte Carlo method can be calculated (expensive) and predicted a priori (cheap) when estimating quantities of interest (QoI) on a histogram. We consider two types of QoI estimators: point estimators for which each particle provides one independent contribution to the QoI estimates, and analog estimators for which each particle provides multiple correlated contributions to the QoI estimates. The developed statistical error predictors can be applied to other QoI estimators and nonanalog simulation routines as well. The error analysis is based on interpreting the number of particle visits to a histogram bin as the result of a (correlated) binomial experiment. The resulting expressions can be used to optimize (non)analog particle tracing Monte Carlo methods and hybrid simulation methods involving a Monte Carlo component, as well as to select an optimal particle tracing Monte Carlo method from several available options. Additionally, the cheap statistical error predictors can be used to determine a priori the number of particles N that is needed to reach a desired accuracy. We illustrate the theory using a linear kinetic equation describing neutral particles in the plasma edge of a fusion device and show numerical results. The code used to perform the numerical experiments is openly available.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2404_00315
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Predicting the statistical error of analog particle tracing Monte Carlo
Maes, Vince
Bossuyt, Ignace
Vandecasteele, Hannes
Dekeyser, Wouter
Koellermeier, Julian
Baelmans, Martine
Samaey, Giovanni
Computational Physics
Numerical Analysis
Large particle systems are often described by high-dimensional (linear) kinetic equations that are simulated using Monte Carlo methods for which the asymptotic convergence rate is independent of the dimensionality. Even though the asymptotic convergence rate is known, predicting the actual value of the statistical error remains a challenging problem. In this paper, we show how the statistical error of an analog particle tracing Monte Carlo method can be calculated (expensive) and predicted a priori (cheap) when estimating quantities of interest (QoI) on a histogram. We consider two types of QoI estimators: point estimators for which each particle provides one independent contribution to the QoI estimates, and analog estimators for which each particle provides multiple correlated contributions to the QoI estimates. The developed statistical error predictors can be applied to other QoI estimators and nonanalog simulation routines as well. The error analysis is based on interpreting the number of particle visits to a histogram bin as the result of a (correlated) binomial experiment. The resulting expressions can be used to optimize (non)analog particle tracing Monte Carlo methods and hybrid simulation methods involving a Monte Carlo component, as well as to select an optimal particle tracing Monte Carlo method from several available options. Additionally, the cheap statistical error predictors can be used to determine a priori the number of particles N that is needed to reach a desired accuracy. We illustrate the theory using a linear kinetic equation describing neutral particles in the plasma edge of a fusion device and show numerical results. The code used to perform the numerical experiments is openly available.
title Predicting the statistical error of analog particle tracing Monte Carlo
topic Computational Physics
Numerical Analysis
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.00315