Newsgroups: comp.parallel
From: aluru@top.cis.syr.edu (Srinivas Aluru)
Subject: Re: Random Numbers
Organization: Syracuse University CIS Dept.
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 1995 18:48:21 GMT
Message-ID: <3f1q81$r4t@newstand.syr.edu>

In article <3f174p$lcc@stc06.CTD.ORNL.GOV>, hdc@ORNL.GOV (Hank Cochran) writes:
|> The ticklish task of generating (pseudo)random numbers for computations is made 
|> substantially more complicated on a massively parallel computer (correlation of 
|> random number chains on different processors). Can anyone recommend a thoughtful 
|> overview of this subject for a non-specialist--how-to for the scientific user?
|> 
|> Thanks,
|> 
|> Hank Cochran
|> 
|> --------------------------------------------------------
|> H. D. Cochran                       tel    615/574-6821
|> Chemical Technology Division        fax    615/241-4829
|> Oak Ridge National Laboratory       email  hdc@ornl.gov
|> Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6224 (USA)
|> --------------------------------------------------------


I would suggest my paper:

   Srinivas Aluru, G.M. Prabhu and John Gustafson, A Random Number
   Generator for Parallel Computers, {\em Parallel Computing 18}(1992)
   839-847.

The paper talks about the issues involved in parallel random number generation
and useful techniques. It also contains a parallel random number generator with
complete implementation. For a more detailed description and the code of the
generator, you can read my master's thesis:

   Srinivas Aluru, Random Number Generators for Parallel Computers, M.S. Thesis,
   Iowa State University, 1991.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you need more information.

-Srinivas



