Real-Time Visualization of Monte Carlo Data from Simulating the Two-Dimensional Ising Model using the Processing Language

This paper reports on using the Processing Language for the visu-alization of data that is produced in the course of a Monte Carlo simulation running concurrently to the visualization process. Par-ticularly, we simulate the two-dimensional Ising model, describing (anti-) ferromagnetism in statistical physics. Due to its simplicity, we consider it well suited for evaluating the Processing Language being an appropriate framework for this purpose or not. It is also its simplicity which, combined with means of visualization, allows for an intuitive understanding of what (anti-) ferromagnetism actu-ally means. With respect to the latter point, we focus on creating a graphical user interface (GUI) allowing to adjust the parameters of the model in real-time with all changes immediately applied to the underlying Monte Carlo simulation. Since system observables are continously evaluated and displayed, the user can track how differ-ent parameter configurations affect the system. In this way, contact to the respective model (here the Ising model) can be made without being familiar with the details of the model.