ABSTRACT
Chapter 8 dives into more advanced and specialized computer simulation techniques. The first is molecular dynamics, where we track the behavior of an atomic or molecular system through time. We talk about theory, code development and validation, and provide an example for readers to use as well as a successful application in the research arena. Then we move on to Monte Carlo, which is a statistical approach with applications here to magnetic layered systems. We go through code development and validation and offer an example for the reader as well as an instance where the technique was used successfully in research. Then we go to a very large length scale and talk about the dynamics of solar systems and galaxies, and present a basic example that the reader can use as a starting point to learn from and modify. Finally, we discuss an advanced method for simulating planetary collisions (Barnes-Hutt), which is very efficient and can be used in models of galactic, stellar, solar system, and planetary formation.
