Optimizing glassy p -spin models

Computing the ground state of Ising spin-glass models with p-spin interactions is, in general, an NP-hard problem. In this work we show that unlike in the case of the standard Ising spin glass with two-spin interactions, computing ground states with p=3 is an NP-hard problem even in two space dimensions. Furthermore, we present generic exact and heuristic algorithms for finding ground states of p-spin models with high confidence for systems of up to several thousand spins.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figure

Stronger Lagrangian bounds by use of slack variables: applications to machine scheduling problems

Lagrangian relaxation is a powerful bounding technique that has been applied successfully to manyNP-hard combinatorial optimization problems. The basic idea is to see anNP-hard problem as an easy-to-solve problem complicated by a number of nasty side constraints. We show that reformulating nasty inequality constraints as equalities by using slack variables leads to stronger lower bounds. The trick is widely applicable, but we focus on a broad class of machine scheduling problems for which it is particularly useful. We provide promising computational results for three problems belonging to this class for which Lagrangian bounds have appeared in the literature: the single-machine problem of minimizing total weighted completion time subject to precedence constraints, the two-machine flow-shop problem of minimizing total completion time, and the single-machine problem of minimizing total weighted tardiness

An extensive English language bibliography on graph theory and its applications, supplement 1

Graph theory and its applications - bibliography, supplement

The matching relaxation for a class of generalized set partitioning problems

This paper introduces a discrete relaxation for the class of combinatorial optimization problems which can be described by a set partitioning formulation under packing constraints. We present two combinatorial relaxations based on computing maximum weighted matchings in suitable graphs. Besides providing dual bounds, the relaxations are also used on a variable reduction technique and a matheuristic. We show how that general method can be tailored to sample applications, and also perform a successful computational evaluation with benchmark instances of a problem in maritime logistics.Comment: 33 pages. A preliminary (4-page) version of this paper was presented at CTW 2016 (Cologne-Twente Workshop on Graphs and Combinatorial Optimization), with proceedings on Electronic Notes in Discrete Mathematic