Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol.114, No.16, 6994-7000, 2001
Smart darting Monte Carlo
The "Smart Walking" Monte Carlo algorithm is examined. In general, due to a bias imposed by the interbasin trial move, the algorithm does not satisfy detailed balance. While it has been shown that it can provide good estimates of equilibrium averages for certain potentials, for other potentials the estimates are poor. A modified version of the algorithm, Smart Darting Monte Carlo, which obeys the detailed balance condition, is proposed. Calculations on a one-dimensional model potential, on a Lennard-Jones cluster and on the alanine dipeptide demonstrate the accuracy and promise of the method for deeply quenched systems.