This book is summarizing the results of the workshop "Uniform Distribution and Quasi-Monte Carlo Methods" of the RICAM Special Semester on "Applications of Algebra and Number Theory" in October 2013. The survey articles in this book focus on number theoretic point constructions, uniform distribution theory, and quasi-Monte Carlo methods. As deterministic versions of the Monte Carlo method, quasi-Monte Carlo rules enjoy increasing popularity, with many fruitful applications in mathematical practice, as for example in finance, computer graphics, and biology. The goal of this book is to give an overview of recent developments in uniform distribution theory, quasi-Monte Carlo methods, and their applications, presented by leading experts in these vivid fields of research.

This textbook introduces readers to the basic concepts of quasi-Monte Carlo methods for numerical integration and to the theory behind them. The comprehensive treatment of the subject with detailed explanations comprises, for example, lattice rules, digital nets and sequences and discrepancy theory. It also presents methods currently used in research and discusses practical applications with an emphasis on finance-related problems. Each chapter closes with suggestions for further reading and with exercises which help students to arrive at a deeper understanding of the material presented. The book is based on a one-semester, two-hour undergraduate course and is well-suited for readers with a basic grasp of algebra, calculus, linear algebra and basic probability theory. It provides an accessible introduction for undergraduate students in mathematics or computer science.

Tremendous progress has taken place in the related areas of uniform pseudorandom number generation and quasi-Monte Carlo methods in the last five years. This volume contains recent important work in these two areas, and stresses the interplay between them. Some developments contained here have never before appeared in book form. Includes the discussion of the integrated treatment of pseudorandom numbers and quasi-Monte Carlo methods; the systematic development of the theory of lattice rules and the theory of nets and (t,s)-sequences; the construction of new and better low-discrepancy point sets and sequences; Nonlinear congruential methods; the initiation of a systematic study of methods for pseudorandom vector generation; and shift-register pseudorandom numbers. Based on a series of 10 lectures presented by the author at a CBMS-NSF Regional Conference at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks in 1990 to a selected group of researchers, this volume includes background material to make the information more accessible to nonspecialists.

This volume contains recent work in uniform pseudorandom number generation and quasi-Monte Carlo methods, and stresses the interplay between them.

Quasi–Monte Carlo methods have become an increasingly popular alternative to Monte Carlo methods over the last two decades. Their successful implementation on practical problems, especially in finance, has motivated the development of several new research areas within this field to which practitioners and researchers from various disciplines currently contribute. This book presents essential tools for using quasi–Monte Carlo sampling in practice. The first part of the book focuses on issues related to Monte Carlo methods—uniform and non-uniform random number generation, variance reduction techniques—but the material is presented to prepare the readers for the next step, which is to replace the random sampling inherent to Monte Carlo by quasi–random sampling. The second part of the book deals with this next step. Several aspects of quasi-Monte Carlo methods are covered, including constructions, randomizations, the use of ANOVA decompositions, and the concept of effective dimension. The third part of the book is devoted to applications in finance and more advanced statistical tools like Markov chain Monte Carlo and sequential Monte Carlo, with a discussion of their quasi–Monte Carlo counterpart. The prerequisites for reading this book are a basic knowledge of statistics and enough mathematical maturity to follow through the various techniques used throughout the book. This text is aimed at graduate students in statistics, management science, operations research, engineering, and applied mathematics. It should also be useful to practitioners who want to learn more about Monte Carlo and quasi–Monte Carlo methods and researchers interested in an up-to-date guide to these methods.

Monte Carlo simulation has become one of the most important tools in all fields of science. This book surveys the basic techniques and principles of the subject, as well as general techniques useful in more complicated models and in novel settings. The emphasis throughout is on practical methods that work well in current computing environments.

Quasi-Monte Carlo methods, which are often described as deterministic versions of Monte Carlo methods, were introduced in the 1950s by number theoreticians. They improve several deficiencies of Monte Carlo methods; such as providing estimates with deterministic bounds and avoiding the paradoxical difficulty of generating random numbers in a computer. However, they have their own drawbacks. First, although they provide faster convergence than Monte Carlo methods asymptotically, the advantage may not be practical to obtain in "high" dimensional problems. Second, there is not a practical way to measure the error of a quasi-Monte Carlo simulation. Finally, unlike Monte Carlo methods, there is a scarcity of error reduction techniques for these methods. In this dissertation, we attempt to provide remedies for the disadvantages of quasi-Monte Carlo methods mentioned above. In the first part of the dissertation, a hybrid-Monte Carlo sequence designed to obtain error reduction in high dimensions is studied. Probabilistic results on the discrepancy of this sequence as well as results obtained by applying the sequence to problems from numerical integration and mathematical finance are presented. In the second part of the dissertation, a new hybrid-Monte Carlo method is introduced, in an attempt to obtain a practical statistical error analysis using low-discrepancy sequences. It is applied to problems from mathematical finance and particle transport theory to compare its effectiveness with the conventional methods. In the last part of the dissertation, a generalized quasi-Monte Carlo integration rule is introduced. A Koksma-Hlawka type inequality for the rule is proved, using a new concept for the variation of a function. As a consequence of the rule, error reduction techniques and in particular an "importance sampling" type statement are derived. Problems from different disciplines are used as practical tests for our methods. The numerical results obtained in favor of the methods suggest the practical advantages that can be realized by their use in a wide variety of applications.