Using Pseudo-random numbers repeateably in a fine-grain multithreaded simulation

Description

Particle transport Monte Carlo simulations are a key tool for High Energy Physics experiments, including the LHC experiments at CERN. All Monte Carlo (MC) simulations depend vitaly on Pseudo-Random Number Generators (PRNGs) used to sample many distributions. Each LHC experiments generates 5-10 Billion sampled physics events a year using around 10^18 sampled values from PRNGs. PRNGs take 1-5% of CPU time. PRNGs used must possess very large periods, fast execution, the ability to create a large number of streams, and very good correlation properties between streams and sampled values. It must be possible to reproduced a simulated event any time, for reexamination or debugging.

Task ideas

Requirements

Programming in C/C++ or Java at least for class projects is required. Use of Linux/Unix, cmake and/or a coding IDE (Eclipse, Xcode) will be assets. Knowledge gained: use of Pseudo-Random Number Generators and state of the art of PRNGs.

Mentors

Web site

http://cern.ch/geant4

Source code

https://github.com/Geant4/geant4

Corresponding Project

Participating Organizations