62,263 research outputs found
A strongly polynomial algorithm for generalized flow maximization
A strongly polynomial algorithm is given for the generalized flow
maximization problem. It uses a new variant of the scaling technique, called
continuous scaling. The main measure of progress is that within a strongly
polynomial number of steps, an arc can be identified that must be tight in
every dual optimal solution, and thus can be contracted. As a consequence of
the result, we also obtain a strongly polynomial algorithm for the linear
feasibility problem with at most two nonzero entries per column in the
constraint matrix.Comment: minor correction
Shortest path and maximum flow problems in planar flow networks with additive gains and losses
In contrast to traditional flow networks, in additive flow networks, to every
edge e is assigned a gain factor g(e) which represents the loss or gain of the
flow while using edge e. Hence, if a flow f(e) enters the edge e and f(e) is
less than the designated capacity of e, then f(e) + g(e) = 0 units of flow
reach the end point of e, provided e is used, i.e., provided f(e) != 0. In this
report we study the maximum flow problem in additive flow networks, which we
prove to be NP-hard even when the underlying graphs of additive flow networks
are planar. We also investigate the shortest path problem, when to every edge e
is assigned a cost value for every unit flow entering edge e, which we show to
be NP-hard in the strong sense even when the additive flow networks are planar
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