Feasible and accurate algorithms for covering semidefinite programs

In this paper we describe an algorithm to approximately solve a class of semidefinite programs called covering semidefinite programs. This class includes many semidefinite programs that arise in the context of developing algorithms for important optimization problems such as sparsest cut, wireless multicasting, and pattern classification. We give algorithms for covering SDPs whose dependence on … Read more

Coverings and Matchings in r-Partite Hypergraphs

Ryser’s conjecture postulates that, for $r$-partite hypergraphs, $\tau \leq (r-1) \nu$ where $\tau$ is the covering number of the hypergraph and $\nu$ is the matching number. Although this conjecture has been open since the 1960s, researchers have resolved it for special cases such as for intersecting hypergraphs where $r \leq 5$. In this paper, we … Read more

Approximating the Least Core Value and Least Core of Cooperative Games with Supermodular Costs

We study the approximation of the least core value and the least core of supermodular cost cooperative games. We provide a framework for approximation based on oracles that approximately determine maximally violated constraints. This framework yields a (3 + \epsilon)-approximation algorithm for computing the least core value of supermodular cost cooperative games, and a polynomial-time … Read more

Explicit Convex and Concave Envelopes through Polyhedral Subdivisions

In this paper, we derive explicit characterizations of convex and concave envelopes of several nonlinear functions over various subsets of a hyper-rectangle. These envelopes are obtained by identifying polyhedral subdivisions of the hyper-rectangle over which the envelopes can be constructed easily. In particular, we use these techniques to derive, in closed-form, the concave envelopes of … Read more

Semidefinite code bounds based on quadruple distances

Let A(n, d) be the maximum number of 0, 1 words of length n, any two having Hamming distance at least d. We prove A(20, 8) = 256, which implies that the quadruply shortened Golay code is optimal. Moreover, we show A(18, 6) ≤ 673, A(19, 6) ≤ 1237, A(20, 6) ≤ 2279, A(23, 6) … Read more

Small bipartite subgraph polytopes

We compute a complete linear description of the bipartite subgraph polytope, for up to seven nodes, and a conjectured complete description for eight nodes. We then show how these descriptions were used to compute the integrality ratio of various relaxations of the max-cut problem, again for up to eight nodes. CitationL. Galli & A.N. Letchford … Read more

Approximating the minimum directed tree cover

Given a directed graph $G$ with non negative cost on the arcs, a directed tree cover of $G$ is a directed tree such that either head or tail (or both of them) of every arc in $G$ is touched by $T$. The minimum directed tree cover problem (DTCP) is to find a directed tree cover … Read more

A biased random-key genetic algorithm for routing and wavelength assignment

The problem of routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical networks consists in routing a set of lightpaths and assigning a wavelength to each of them, such that lightpaths whose routes share a common fiber are assigned different wavelengths. This problem was shown to be NP-hard when the objective is to … Read more

Path-relinking intensification methods for stochastic local search algorithms

Path-relinking is major enhancement to heuristic search methods for solving combinatorial optimization problems, leading to significant improvements in both solution quality and running times. We review its fundamentals and implementation strategies, as well as advanced hybridizations with more elaborate metaheuristic schemes such as genetic algorithms and scatter search. Numerical examples are discussed and algorithms compared … Read more

Isomorphism testing for circulant graphs Cn(a,b)

In this paper we focus on connected directed/undirected circulant graphs Cn(a,b). We investigate some topological characteristics, and define a simple combinatorial model, which is new for the topic. Building on such a model, we derive a necessary and sufficient condition to test whether two circulant graphs Cn(a, b) and Cn(a’,b’) are isomorphic or not. The … Read more