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abstract: |
    We implemented a GPU based parallel code to perform Monte Carlo simulations of the two dimensional q-state Potts model. The algorithm is based on a checkerboard update scheme and assigns independent random numbers generators to each thread. The implementation allows to simulate systems up to $\sim 10^9$ spins with an average time per spin flip of $0.147ns$ on the fastest GPU card tested, representing a speedup up to 155x, compared with an optimized serial code running on a high-end CPU.

    The possibility of performing high speed simulations at large enough system sizes allowed us to provide a positive numerical evidence about the existence of metastability on very large systems based on Binder’s criterion, namely, on the existence or not of specific heat singularities at spinodal temperatures different of the transition one.
address:
- 'CONICET, Centro Atómico Bariloche, 8400 San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina'
- 'Facultad de Matemática, Astronomía y Física, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ciudad Universitaria, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina'
- 'Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola (IFEG-CONICET), Ciudad Universitaria, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina'
author:
- 'Ezequiel E. Ferrero'
- Juan Pablo De Francesco
- Nicolás Wolovick
- 'Sergio A. Cannas'
title: 'q-state Potts model metastability study using 