docs: def static(self, max_steps, step_size):
          """
      Set Back-off to Static
          Set the sampler parameters for static back off
      Inputs :
          max_steps :
              maximum optimization steps to be taken
          step_size : 
              the step size of the back-off
          """
          self._dynamic = False
          # begin checks      
          try : 
              self._max_steps = int(max_steps)
          except :
              print("Error: Input 1 (max_steps) has to be an int.")
              return 0
          try : 
              assert self._max_steps >= 0
          except : 
              print("Warning: Input 1 (max_steps) has to be non-negative.")
              print("Setting max_steps to 0.")
              self._max_steps = 0
  
          if max_steps > 0 :
              try : 
                  assert step_size == float(step_size)
              except AssertionError :
                  print("Warning: Input 2 (step_size) is not a float. Converted.")
                  step_size = float(step_size)
              except :
                  print("Error: Input 2 (step_size) has to be a float.")
                  return 0
  
              try : 
                  assert 0. < step_size < 1.
              except : 
                  print("Warning: Input 2 (step_size) has to be between 0 and 1.")
                  print("Setting step_size to 0.2.")
                  step_size = 0.2
              self._step_size = step_size
              if step_size**max_steps < 10**(-15):
                  print("Warning: Back-off gets dangerously small.")