Fast simulation of large-scale growth models

Understand

We give an algorithm that computes the final state of certain growth models without computing all intermediate states.

• Our technique is based on a "least action principle" which characterizes the odometer function of the growth process.
• Starting from an approximation for the odometer, we successively correct under- and overestimates and provably arrive at the correct final state.
• Internal diffusion-limited aggregation (IDLA) is one of the models amenable to our technique.