Fast special purpose computer for Monte Carlo simulations in statistical physics

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Abstract
Design, hardware, and operating software of a special purpose computer built for the Monte Carlo simulations of a wide class of random Ising spin systems is described. The machine is quite versatile, easy to operate, and executes programs written in a high level C language. It is a 32-bit bus oriented system, with a very fast, dedicated Monte Carlo processor and a general purpose single-board computer sharing the 16-Mbyte address space. The former processor executes the basic Monte Carlo heat bath algorithm, and the latter performs required physical ‘‘measurements’’ on spin configurations and handles communication with a UNIX host machine. The host computer is used to compile and download programs and to receive small quantities of reduced data for permanent storage and further analysis.

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