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The Metropolis Algorithm

This dynamic method of generating an arbitrary probability distribution was invented by Metropolis, Teller, and Rosenbluth in 1953 (supposedly at a Los Alamos dinner party).

There are many possible choices of the W's which will satisfy detailed balance. They chose a very simple one:

So, if

and if



Paul Coddington, Northeast Parallel Architectures Center at Syracuse University, paulc@npac.syr.edu