A study of block algorithms for fermion matrix inversion

We compare the convergence properties of Lanczos and Conjugate Gradient algorithms applied to the calculation of columns of the inverse fermion matrix for Kogut-Susskind and Wilson fermions in lattice QCD. When several columns of the inverse are required simultaneously, a block version of the Lanczos algorithm is most efficient at small mass, being over 5 times faster than the single algorithms. The block algorithm is also less susceptible to critical slowing down. (orig.)