Throwing Dice Science

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Throwing DiceScience ComputersPHY307/PHY607No
v. 7, 2002

• Summary on generating random numbers.
• Note project info on-line, project draft due at
  1130 AM, Tuesday.

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Why noise in computation?

• In order to sample different possible scenarios
  when lack exact information.
• E.g., asteroids and the Earth (simulation.)
• Sampling also quick way to estimate, even when
  exact information is possible.
• To mimic the noise in physical processes
• essential randomness from quantum physics.
• effective randomness from chaos, complexity.

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Generating randomness

• Paradox Using a recipe to generate random
  numbers.
• Can use noisy electronic circuits or quantum
  processes to generate true unpredictability.
• Or use a recipe which is repeatable, but tough to
  predict.
• Complicated version of eeny-meeny-miney-mo.
• This is called a pseudorandom number generator
  most common.
• Where you start from is important.

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Physical pseudorandomness

• Coin flipping (real simulated)

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