We develop a novel data-driven approach to the inverse problem of classical statistical mechanics: Given the experimental data on the collective motion of a classical many-body system, how does one characterize the free energy landscape of that system? By combining non-parametric Bayesian inference with physically motivated constraints, we develop an efficient learning algorithm that automates the construction of approximate free-energy functionals. In contrast to optimization-based machine learning approaches, which seek to minimize a cost function, the central idea of the proposed Bayesian inference is to propagate a set of prior assumptions through the model, derived from physical principles. The experimental data are used to probabilistically weigh the possible model predictions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe simulation of stochastic reaction-diffusion systems using fine-grained representations can become computationally prohibitive when particle numbers become large. If particle numbers are sufficiently high then it may be possible to ignore stochastic fluctuations and use a more efficient coarse-grained simulation approach. Nevertheless, for multiscale systems which exhibit significant spatial variation in concentration, a coarse-grained approach may not be appropriate throughout the simulation domain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF