Lectures on Monte Carlo Theory (Probability Theory and Stochastic Modelling, 108)

This book presents a broad range of computational techniques based on repeated random sampling, widely known as Monte Carlo methods and sometimes as stochastic simulation. These methods bring together ideas from probability theory, statistics, computer science, and statistical physics, providing tools for solving problems in fields such as operations research, biotechnology, and finance.

Topics include the generation and analysis of pseudorandom numbers (which are intended to imitate truly random numbers on a computer), the design and justification of Monte Carlo algorithms, and advanced approaches such as Markov chain Monte Carlo and stochastic optimization. In contrast to deterministic numerical methods, the outcome of a Monte Carlo algorithm is itself random – and one needs the tools of probability and statistics to interpret these results meaningfully. The theoretical foundations, particularly the law of large numbers and central limit theorem, are combined with practical algorithms that reveal both the strengths and subtleties of stochastic simulation.

The book includes numerous exercises, both theoretical and computational. Each chapter features step-by-step algorithms, illustrated examples, and results presented through numerical computations, tables, and a variety of plots and figures. All Python code used to produce these results is publicly available, allowing readers to reproduce and explore simulations on their own.

Intended primarily for graduate students and researchers, the exposition focuses on core concepts and intuitive understanding, avoiding excessive formalism. The book is suitable both for self-study and as a course text and offers a clear pathway from foundational principles to modern applications.

Paweł Lorek obtained his PhD at the University of Wrocław in 2007, where he is currently a professor at the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science. His main scientific interests include Markov chains (in particular, the rate of convergence to stationarity and duality-based methods), computer security, and probabilistic aspects of machine learning.

Tomasz Rolski obtained his PhD at the University of Wrocław in 1972, where he is currently a professor at the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science. He is the author or co-author of about 90 scientific publications and three books in various areas of applied probability. His main mathematical interests include queueing theory, point processes, ruin theory, and life insurance mathematics.