title: Efficient parallel tempering for first-order phase transitions.
abstract: We present a Monte Carlo algorithm that facilitates efficient parallel tempering simulations of the density of states g(E) . We show that the algorithm eliminates the supercritical slowing down in the case of the Q=20 and Q=256 Potts models in two dimensions, typical examples for systems with extreme first-order phase transitions. As recently predicted, and shown here, the microcanonical heat capacity along the calorimetric curve has negative values for finite systems.
authors.affiliation: John von Neumann Institute for Computing, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany. t.neuhaus@fz-juelich.de
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Neuhaus
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Magiera
authors.forename: U H E
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Hansmann