Many body dynamics

Specialized techniques for solving the classical many-body problem are explored in the context of simple gases, more complicated gases, and gravitating systems. The chapter starts with a brief review of some important concepts from statistical mechanics and then introduces the classic Verlet method for obtaining the dynamics of many simple particles. The practical problems of setting the system temperature and measuring observables are discussed. The issues associated with simulating systems of complex objects form the next topic. One approach is to implement constrained dynamics, which can be done elegantly with iterative methods. Gravitational systems are introduced next with stress on techniques that are applicable to systems of different scales and to problems with long range forces. A description of the recursive Barnes-Hut algorithm and particle-mesh methods that speed up force calculations close out the chapter.