TheRandStream
class allows you to create a random number stream. This is useful for several reasons:
You can generate random values without affecting the state of the global stream.
You can separate sources of randomness in a simulation.
You can use a generator that is configured differently than the one MATLAB®software uses at startup.
With aRandStream
object, you can create your own stream, set the writable properties, and use the stream to generate random numbers. You can control the stream you create the same way you control the global stream. You can even replace the global stream with the stream you create.
To create a stream, use theRandStream
function.
myStream = RandStream('mlfg6331_64'); rand(myStream,1,5)
ans = 0.6986 0.7413 0.4239 0.6914 0.7255
The random streammyStream
acts separately from the global stream. If you call therand
,randn
,randi
, andrandperm
functions withmyStream
as the first argument, they draw from the stream you created. If you callrand
,randn
,randi
, andrandperm
withoutmyStream
, they draw from the global stream.
You can makemyStream
the global stream using theRandStream.setGlobalStream
method.
RandStream.setGlobalStream(myStream) RandStream.getGlobalStream
ans = mlfg6331_64 random stream (current global stream) Seed: 0 NormalTransform: Ziggurat
RandStream.getGlobalStream == myStream
ans = 1
You can use substreams to get different results that are statistically independent from a stream. Unlike seeds, where the locations along the sequence of random numbers are not exactly known, the spacing between substreams is known, so any chance of overlap can be eliminated. In short, substreams are a more-controlled way to do many of the same things that seeds have traditionally been used for. Substreams are also a more lightweight solution than parallel streams.
Substreams provide a quick and easy way to ensure that you get different results from the same code at different times. To use theSubstream
财产的RandStream
object, create a stream using a generator that supports substreams. For a list of generator algorithms that support substreams and their properties, see the table in the next section. For example, generate several random numbers in a loop.
myStream = RandStream('mlfg6331_64'); RandStream.setGlobalStream(myStream)fori = 1:5 myStream.Substream = i; z = rand(1,i)end
z = 0.6986 z = 0.9230 0.2489 z = 0.0261 0.2530 0.0737 z = 0.3220 0.7405 0.1983 0.1052 z = 0.2067 0.2417 0.9777 0.5970 0.4187
In another loop, you can generate random values that are independent from the first set of 5 iterations.
fori = 6:10 myStream.Substream = i; z = rand(1,11-i)end
z = 0.2650 0.8229 0.2479 0.0247 0.4581 z = 0.3963 0.7445 0.7734 0.9113 z = 0.2758 0.3662 0.7979 z = 0.6814 0.5150 z = 0.5247
Substreams are useful in serial computation. Substreams can recreate all or part of a simulation by returning to a particular checkpoint in stream. For example, you can return to the 6th substream in the loop. The result contains the same values as the 6th output above.
myStream.Substream = 6; z = rand(1,5)
z = 0.2650 0.8229 0.2479 0.0247 0.4581
MATLAB offers several generator algorithm options. The table summarizes the key properties of the available generator algorithms and the keywords used to create them. To return a list of all the available generator algorithms, use theRandStream.list
method.
Keyword | Generator | Multiple Stream and Substream Support | Approximate Period In Full Precision |
---|---|---|---|
mt19937ar |
Mersenne twister (used by default stream at MATLAB startup) | No | 219937-1 |
dsfmt19937 |
SIMD-oriented fast Mersenne twister | No | 219937-1 |
mcg16807 |
Multiplicative congruential generator | No | 231-2 |
mlfg6331_64 |
Multiplicative lagged Fibonacci generator | Yes | 2124(251streams of length 272) |
mrg32k3a |
Combined multiple recursive generator | Yes | 2191(263streams of length 2127) |
philox4x32_10 |
Philox 4x32 generator with 10 rounds | Yes | 2193(264streams of length 2129) |
threefry4x64_20 |
Threefry 4x64 generator with 20 rounds | Yes | 2514(2256streams of length 2258) |
shr3cong |
Shift-register generator summed with linear congruential generator | No | 264 |
swb2712 |
Modified subtract with borrow generator | No | 21492 |
The generatorsmcg16807
,shr3cong
, andswb2712
提供backwards compatibility with earlier versions of MATLAB.mt19937ar
anddsfmt19937
are designed primarily for sequential applications. The remaining generators provide explicit support for parallel random number generation.
Depending on the application, some generators might be faster or return values with more precision. All pseudorandom number generators are based on deterministic algorithms, and all generators pass a sufficiently specific statistical test for randomness. One way to check the results of a Monte Carlo simulation is to rerun the simulation with two or more different generator algorithms, and the choice of generators in MATLAB provides you with the means to do that. Although it is unlikely that your results will differ by more than the Monte Carlo sampling error when using different generators, there are examples in the literature where this kind of validation has turned up flaws in a particular generator algorithm. (See[13]for an example.)
mt19937ar
The Mersenne Twister, as described in[11], has period
and each U(0,1) value is created using two 32-bit integers. The possible values are multiples of
in the interval (0, 1). This generator does not support multiple streams or substreams. Therandn
algorithm used by default formt19937ar
streams is the ziggurat algorithm[7], but with themt19937ar
generator underneath.
Note
This generator is identical to the one used by therand
function beginning in MATLAB Version 7, activated byrand('twister',s)
.
dsfmt19937
The double precision SIMD-oriented Fast Mersenne Twister, as described in[12], is a faster implementation of the Mersenne Twister algorithm. The period is and the possible values are multiples of in the interval (0, 1). The generator produces double precision values in [1, 2) natively, which are transformed to create U(0,1) values. This generator does not support multiple streams or substreams.
mcg16807
A 32-bit multiplicative congruential generator, as described in[14], with multiplier
, modulo
. This generator has a period of
and does not support multiple streams or substreams. Each U(0,1) value is created using a single 32-bit integer from the generator; the possible values are all multiples of
strictly within the interval (0, 1). Formcg16807
streams, the default algorithm used byrandn
is the polar algorithm (described in[1]).
Note
This generator is identical to the one used beginning in MATLAB Version 4 by both therand
andrandn
functions, activated usingrand('seed',s)
orrandn('seed',s)
.
mlfg6331_64
一个64位的乘法滞后Fibonacci generator, as described in[10], with lags
,
. This generator is similar to the MLFG implemented in the SPRNG package. It has a period of approximately
. It supports up to
parallel streams, via parameterization, and
substreams each of length
. Each U(0,1) value is created using one 64-bit integer from the generator; the possible values are all multiples of
strictly within the interval (0, 1). Therandn
algorithm used by default formlfg6331_64
streams is the ziggurat algorithm[7], but with themlfg6331_64
generator underneath.
mrg32k3a
A 32-bit combined multiple recursive generator, as described in[2]. This generator is similar to the CMRG implemented in the RngStreams package in C. It has a period of
and supports up to
parallel streams through sequence splitting, each of length
. It also supports
substreams, each of length
. Each U(0,1) value is created using two 32-bit integers from the generator; the possible values are multiples of
strictly within the interval (0, 1). Therandn
algorithm used by default formrg32k3a
streams is the ziggurat algorithm[7], but with themrg32k3a
generator underneath.
philox4x32_10
A 4x32 generator with 10 rounds as described in[15]. This generator uses a Feistel network and integer multiplication. The generator is specifically designed for high performance in highly parallel systems such as GPUs. It has a period of 2193(264streams of length 2129).
threefry4x64_20
A 4x64 generator with 20 rounds as described in[15]. This generator is a non-cryptographic adaptation of the Threefish block cipher from the Skein Hash Function. It has a period of 2514(2256streams of length 2258).
shr3cong
Marsaglia's SHR3 shift-register generator summed with a linear congruential generator with multiplier
, addend
, and modulus
. SHR3 is a 3-shift-register generator defined as
, where
is the identity operator,
is the left shift operator, andRis the right shift operator. The combined generator (the SHR3 part is described in[7]) has a period of approximately
. This generator does not support multiple streams or substreams. Each U(0,1) value is created using one 32-bit integer from the generator; the possible values are all multiples of
strictly within the interval (0, 1). Therandn
algorithm used by default forshr3cong
streams is the earlier form of the ziggurat algorithm[9], but with theshr3cong
generator underneath. This generator is identical to the one used by therandn
function beginning in MATLAB Version 5, activated usingrandn('state',s)
.
swb2712
A modified Subtract-with-Borrow generator, as described in[8]. This generator is similar to an additive lagged Fibonacci generator with lags 27 and 12, but it is modified to have a much longer period of approximately
. The generator works natively in double precision to create U(0,1) values, and all values in the open interval (0, 1) are possible. Therandn
algorithm used by default forswb2712
streams is the ziggurat algorithm[7], but with theswb2712
generator underneath.
Note
This generator is identical to the one used by therand
function beginning in MATLAB Version 5, activated usingrand('state',s)
.
Inversion
Computes a normal random variate by applying the standard normal inverse cumulative distribution function to a uniform random variate. Exactly one uniform value is consumed per normal value.
Polar
The polar rejection algorithm, as described in[1]. Approximately 1.27 uniform values are consumed per normal value, on average.
Ziggurat
The ziggurat algorithm, as described in[7]. Approximately 2.02 uniform values are consumed per normal value, on average.
A random number streams
has properties that control its behavior. To access or change a property, use the syntaxp = s.Property
ands.Property = p
.
For example, you can configure the transformation algorithm to generate normally distributed pseudorandom values when usingrandn
. Generate normally distributed pseudorandom values using the defaultZiggurat
transformation algorithm.
s1 = RandStream('mt19937ar'); s1.NormalTransform
ans = 'Ziggurat'
r1 = randn(s1,1,10);
Configure the stream to use thePolar
transformation algorithm to generate normally distributed pseudorandom values.
s1.NormalTransform ='Polar'
s1 = mt19937ar random stream Seed: 0 NormalTransform: Polar
r2 = randn(s1,1,10);
When generating random numbers with uniform distribution usingrand
, you can also configure the stream to generate antithetic pseudorandom values, that is, the usual values subtracted from 1 for uniform values.
Create 6 random numbers with uniform distribution from the stream s.
s2 = RandStream ('mt19937ar'); r1 = rand(s2,1,6)
r1 = 0.8147 0.9058 0.1270 0.9134 0.6324 0.0975
Restore the initial state of the stream. Create another 6 random numbers with theAntithetic
property set to true. Check that these 6 random numbers are equal to the previously generated random numbers subtracted from 1.
reset(s2) s2.Antithetic = true; r2 = rand(s2,1,6)
r2 = 0.1853 0.0942 0.8730 0.0866 0.3676 0.9025
isequal(r1,1 - r2)
ans = 1
Instead of setting the properties of a stream one-by-one, you can save and restore all properties of a streams
by usingA = get(s)
andset(s,A)
, respectively. For example, configure all properties of the streams2
to be the same as the streams1
.
A = get(s1)
A = Type: 'mt19937ar' NumStreams: 1 StreamIndex: 1 Substream: 1 Seed: 0 State: [625x1 uint32] NormalTransform: 'Polar' Antithetic: 0 FullPrecision: 1
set(s2,A)
Type: 'mt19937ar' NumStreams: 1 StreamIndex: 1 Substream: 1 Seed: 0 State: [625x1 uint32] NormalTransform: 'Polar' Antithetic: 0 FullPrecision: 1
Theget
andset
functions enable you to save and restore a stream's entire configuration so that results are exactly reproducible later on.
TheState
property is the internal state of the random number generator. You can save the state of the global stream at a certain point in your simulation when generating random numbers to reproduce the results later on.
UseRandStream.getGlobalStream
to return a handle to the global stream, that is, the current global stream thatrand
generates random numbers from. Save the state of the global stream.
globalStream = RandStream.getGlobalStream; myState = globalStream.State;
UsingmyState
, you can restore the state ofglobalStream
and reproduce previous results.
A = rand(1,100); globalStream.State = myState; B = rand(1,100); isequal(A,B)
ans = logical 1
rand
,randi
,randn
, andrandperm
access the global stream. Since all of these functions access the same underlying stream, a call to one affects the values produced by the others at subsequent calls.
globalStream.State = myState; A = rand(1,100); globalStream.State = myState; C = randi(100); B = rand(1,100); isequal(A,B)
ans = logical 0
You can also reset a stream to its initial settings using thereset
function.
reset(globalStream) A = rand(1,100); reset(globalStream) B = rand(1,100); isequal(A,B)
ans = logical 1
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L 'Ecuyer [2], p .“好参数集的总和Multiple Recursive Random Number Generators”,Operations Research, 47(1): 159–164. 1999.
[3] L'Ecuyer, P. and S. Côté. “Implementing A Random Number Package with Splitting Facilities”,ACM Transactions on Mathematical Software, 17: 98–111. 1991.
[4] L'Ecuyer, P. and R. Simard. “TestU01: A C Library for Empirical Testing of Random Number Generators,”ACM Transactions on Mathematical Software, 33(4): Article 22. 2007.
[5] L'Ecuyer, P., R. Simard, E. J. Chen, and W. D. Kelton. “An Objected-Oriented Random-Number Package with Many Long Streams and Substreams.”Operations Research, 50(6):1073–1075. 2002.
[6] Marsaglia, G. “Random numbers for C: The END?” Usenet posting to sci.stat.math. 1999. Available online athttps://groups.google.com/group/sci.crypt/browse_thread/
.
thread/ca8682a4658a124d/
[7] Marsaglia G., and W. W. Tsang. “The ziggurat method for generating random variables.”Journal of Statistical Software, 5:1–7. 2000. Available online athttps://www.jstatsoft.org/v05/i08
.
[8] Marsaglia, G., and A. Zaman. “A new class of random number generators.”Annals of Applied Probability1(3):462–480. 1991.
[9] Marsaglia, G., and W. W. Tsang. “A fast, easily implemented method for sampling from decreasing or symmetric unimodal density functions.”SIAM J. Sci. Stat. Comput. 5(2):349–359. 1984.
[10] Mascagni, M., and A. Srinivasan. “Parameterizing Parallel Multiplicative Lagged-Fibonacci Generators.”Parallel Computing, 30: 899–916. 2004.
[11] Matsumoto, M., and T. Nishimura.“Mersenne Twister: A 623-Dimensionally Equidistributed Uniform Pseudorandom Number Generator.”ACM Transactions on Modeling and Computer Simulation, 8(1):3–30. 1998.
[12] Matsumoto, M., and M. Saito.“A PRNG Specialized in Double Precision Floating Point Numbers Using an Affine Transition.”Monte Carlo and Quasi-Monte Carlo Methods 2008, 10.1007/978-3-642-04107-5_38. 2009.
[13] Moler, C.B.Numerical Computing with MATLAB. SIAM, 2004. Available online at//www.tatmou.com/moler
[14] Park, S.K., and K.W. Miller. “Random Number Generators: Good Ones Are Hard to Find.”Communications of the ACM, 31(10):1192–1201. 1998.
[15] Salmon, J. K., M. A. Moraes, R. O. Dror, and D. E. Shaw. "Parallel Random Numbers: As Easy As 1, 2, 3." InProceedings of the International Conference for High Performance Computing, Networking, Storage and Analysis (SC11). New York, NY: ACM, 2011.