Estimating statistical distributions using an integral identity

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2012
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American Institute of Physics
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We present an identity for an unbiased estimate of a general statistical distribution. The identity computes the distribution density from dividing a histogram sum over a local window by a correction factor from a mean-force integral, and the mean force can be evaluated as a configuration average. We show that the optimal window size is roughly the inverse of the local mean-force fluctuation. The new identity offers a more robust and precise estimate than a previous one by Adib and Jarzynski [J. Chem. Phys. 122, 014114 (2005)]10.1063/1.1829631. It also allows a straightforward generalization to an arbitrary ensemble and a joint distribution of multiple variables. Particularly we derive a mean-force enhanced version of the weighted histogram analysis method. The method can be used to improve distributions computed from molecular simulations. We illustrate the use in computing a potential energy distribution, a volume distribution in a constant-pressure ensemble, a radial distribution function, and a joint distribution of amino acid backbone dihedral angles.

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Zhang, Cheng and Ma, Jianpeng. "Estimating statistical distributions using an integral identity." The Journal of Chemical Physics, 136, no. 20 (2012) American Institute of Physics: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4721638.

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