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Title: A Large Deviations Analysis of Certain Qualitative Properties of Parallel Tempering and Infinite Swapping Algorithms

Journal Article · · Applied Mathematics and Optimization
 [1];  [2];  [2]
  1. Brown Univ., Providence, RI (United States). Dept. of Chemistry
  2. Brown Univ., Providence, RI (United States). Division of Applied Mathematics

Parallel tempering, or replica exchange, is a popular method for simulating complex systems. The idea is to run parallel simulations at different temperatures, and at a given swap rate exchange configurations between the parallel simulations. From the perspective of large deviations it is optimal to let the swap rate tend to infinity and it is possible to construct a corresponding simulation scheme, known as infinite swapping. In this paper we propose a novel use of large deviations for empirical measures for a more detailed analysis of the infinite swapping limit in the setting of continuous time jump Markov processes. Using the large deviations rate function and associated stochastic control problems we consider a diagnostic based on temperature assignments, which can be easily computed during a simulation. Here we show that the convergence of this diagnostic to its a priori known limit is a necessary condition for the convergence of infinite swapping. Finally, the rate function is also used to investigate the impact of asymmetries in the underlying potential landscape, and where in the state space poor sampling is most likely to occur.

Research Organization:
Brown Univ., Providence, RI (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC); Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA); National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0010539; DMS-1317199; W911NF-15-2-0122
OSTI ID:
1457396
Journal Information:
Applied Mathematics and Optimization, Vol. 78, Issue 1; ISSN 0095-4616
Publisher:
SpringerCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 7 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (1)

Large deviations for the empirical measure of the zig-zag process journal December 2021

Figures / Tables (10)