 Bennett acceptance ratio

The Bennett acceptance ratio is a method used in statistical mechanics for efficiently sampling from a probability distribution, particularly in the context of Monte Carlo simulations. It is especially relevant when dealing with systems where one wants to compute properties of a canonical ensemble or to estimate the free energy differences between two states. The method is based on the idea of combining forward and reverse transitions between states in a way that enables the acceptance of moves with a certain probability, ensuring that the resulting sample is statistically valid.