The two main methodologies of computational Statistical Mechanics, namely the stochastic Monte Carlo and the deterministic Molecular Dynamic methods, were developed in the USA in the mid 1950’s. In the present paper we show how these “computer experiments” migrated to Europe in the 60s, and first bloomed at the Orsay Science Faculty, before spreading throughout Europe. Collaborations between the Orsay group, led by Loup Verlet, and pioneering groups in the USA and Europe are pointed out. Finally it is shown how the celebrated Verlet algorithm for the integration of classical equations of motion can be traced back to Isaac Newton.

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计算统计力学在法国的起源

计算统计力学的两种主要方法，即随机蒙特卡洛方法和确定性分子动力学方法，是在1950年代中期在美国开发的。在本文中，我们展示了这些“计算机实验”在60年代如何迁移到欧洲，并首先在奥赛科学学院蓬勃发展，然后在整个欧洲传播。指出了由Loup Verlet领导的Orsay小组与美国和欧洲的先锋小组之间的合作。最后，它展示了如何将经典运动方程式的著名Verlet算法追溯到Isaac Newton。