A new Monte Carlo circuit simulation paradigm with specific results for resistive networks

In this paper, we formulate a new type of Monte Carlo problem for circuits. Specific results are given for the class of resistive networks and open research problems are indicated for more general cases. Given lower and upper bounds on the value of each resistor but no probability distribution, we consider the problem of estimating appropriate probabilistic measures of performance. In view of the fact that no a priori probability distributions for the uncertain resistors are assumed, a certain type "distributional robustness" is sought. To this end, a new paradigm from the robustness literature is particularized to these circuits. Some of the performance bounds obtained via this new approach differ considerably from those which result from a more conventional Monte Carlo simulation