Monte Carlo algorithms are a foundational pillar of modern computational science, yet their effective application hinges on a deep understanding of their performance trade offs. This paper presents a critical analysis of the evolution of Monte Carlo algorithms, focusing on the persistent tension between statistical efficiency and computational cost. We describe the historical development from the foundational Metropolis Hastings algorithm to contemporary methods like Hamiltonian Monte Carlo. A central emphasis of this survey is the rigorous discussion of time and space complexity, including upper, lower, and asymptotic tight bounds for each major algorithm class. We examine the specific motivations for developing these methods and the key theoretical and practical observations such as the introduction of gradient information and adaptive tuning in HMC that led to successively better solutions. Furthermore, we provide a justification framework that discusses explicit situations in which using one algorithm is demonstrably superior to another for the same problem. The paper concludes by assessing the profound significance and impact of these algorithms and detailing major current research challenges.
翻译:蒙特卡洛算法是现代计算科学的基石,但其有效应用依赖于对其性能权衡的深刻理解。本文对蒙特卡洛算法的发展历程进行了批判性分析,重点关注统计效率与计算成本之间持续存在的张力。我们描述了从基础的Metropolis-Hastings算法到哈密顿蒙特卡洛等当代方法的历史演进。本综述的核心重点是对时间与空间复杂度的严格讨论,包括每个主要算法类别的上界、下界及渐近紧界。我们审视了发展这些方法的具体动机,以及推动解决方案持续改进的关键理论与实际观察,例如哈密顿蒙特卡洛中梯度信息的引入与自适应调参。此外,我们构建了一个论证框架,用以阐明在解决同一问题时,特定算法明显优于其他算法的具体情境。本文最后评估了这些算法的深远意义与影响,并详述了当前面临的主要研究挑战。