5,666 research outputs found
Shortest Reconfiguration of Perfect Matchings via Alternating Cycles
Motivated by adjacency in perfect matching polytopes, we study the shortest reconfiguration problem of perfect matchings via alternating cycles. Namely, we want to find a shortest sequence of perfect matchings which transforms one given perfect matching to another given perfect matching such that the symmetric difference of each pair of consecutive perfect matchings is a single cycle. The problem is equivalent to the combinatorial shortest path problem in perfect matching polytopes. We prove that the problem is NP-hard even when a given graph is planar or bipartite, but it can be solved in polynomial time when the graph is outerplanar
Faster exponential-time algorithms in graphs of bounded average degree
We first show that the Traveling Salesman Problem in an n-vertex graph with
average degree bounded by d can be solved in O*(2^{(1-\eps_d)n}) time and
exponential space for a constant \eps_d depending only on d, where the
O*-notation suppresses factors polynomial in the input size. Thus, we
generalize the recent results of Bjorklund et al. [TALG 2012] on graphs of
bounded degree.
Then, we move to the problem of counting perfect matchings in a graph. We
first present a simple algorithm for counting perfect matchings in an n-vertex
graph in O*(2^{n/2}) time and polynomial space; our algorithm matches the
complexity bounds of the algorithm of Bjorklund [SODA 2012], but relies on
inclusion-exclusion principle instead of algebraic transformations. Building
upon this result, we show that the number of perfect matchings in an n-vertex
graph with average degree bounded by d can be computed in
O*(2^{(1-\eps_{2d})n/2}) time and exponential space, where \eps_{2d} is the
constant obtained by us for the Traveling Salesman Problem in graphs of average
degree at most 2d.
Moreover we obtain a simple algorithm that counts the number of perfect
matchings in an n-vertex bipartite graph of average degree at most d in
O*(2^{(1-1/(3.55d))n/2}) time, improving and simplifying the recent result of
Izumi and Wadayama [FOCS 2012].Comment: 10 page
Counting Euler Tours in Undirected Bounded Treewidth Graphs
We show that counting Euler tours in undirected bounded tree-width graphs is
tractable even in parallel - by proving a upper bound. This is in
stark contrast to #P-completeness of the same problem in general graphs.
Our main technical contribution is to show how (an instance of) dynamic
programming on bounded \emph{clique-width} graphs can be performed efficiently
in parallel. Thus we show that the sequential result of Espelage, Gurski and
Wanke for efficiently computing Hamiltonian paths in bounded clique-width
graphs can be adapted in the parallel setting to count the number of
Hamiltonian paths which in turn is a tool for counting the number of Euler
tours in bounded tree-width graphs. Our technique also yields parallel
algorithms for counting longest paths and bipartite perfect matchings in
bounded-clique width graphs.
While establishing that counting Euler tours in bounded tree-width graphs can
be computed by non-uniform monotone arithmetic circuits of polynomial degree
(which characterize ) is relatively easy, establishing a uniform
bound needs a careful use of polynomial interpolation.Comment: 17 pages; There was an error in the proof of the GapL upper bound
claimed in the previous version which has been subsequently remove
From the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm to a Quantum Alternating Operator Ansatz
The next few years will be exciting as prototype universal quantum processors
emerge, enabling implementation of a wider variety of algorithms. Of particular
interest are quantum heuristics, which require experimentation on quantum
hardware for their evaluation, and which have the potential to significantly
expand the breadth of quantum computing applications. A leading candidate is
Farhi et al.'s Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm, which alternates
between applying a cost-function-based Hamiltonian and a mixing Hamiltonian.
Here, we extend this framework to allow alternation between more general
families of operators. The essence of this extension, the Quantum Alternating
Operator Ansatz, is the consideration of general parametrized families of
unitaries rather than only those corresponding to the time-evolution under a
fixed local Hamiltonian for a time specified by the parameter. This ansatz
supports the representation of a larger, and potentially more useful, set of
states than the original formulation, with potential long-term impact on a
broad array of application areas. For cases that call for mixing only within a
desired subspace, refocusing on unitaries rather than Hamiltonians enables more
efficiently implementable mixers than was possible in the original framework.
Such mixers are particularly useful for optimization problems with hard
constraints that must always be satisfied, defining a feasible subspace, and
soft constraints whose violation we wish to minimize. More efficient
implementation enables earlier experimental exploration of an alternating
operator approach to a wide variety of approximate optimization, exact
optimization, and sampling problems. Here, we introduce the Quantum Alternating
Operator Ansatz, lay out design criteria for mixing operators, detail mappings
for eight problems, and provide brief descriptions of mappings for diverse
problems.Comment: 51 pages, 2 figures. Revised to match journal pape
-covering red and blue points in the plane
We say that a finite set of red and blue points in the plane in general
position can be -covered if the set can be partitioned into subsets of
size , with points of one color and point of the other color, in
such a way that, if at each subset the fourth point is connected by
straight-line segments to the same-colored points, then the resulting set of
all segments has no crossings. We consider the following problem: Given a set
of red points and a set of blue points in the plane in general
position, how many points of can be -covered? and we prove
the following results:
(1) If and , for some non-negative integers and ,
then there are point sets , like -equitable sets (i.e.,
or ) and linearly separable sets, that can be -covered.
(2) If , and the points in are in convex position,
then at least points can be -covered, and this bound is tight.
(3) There are arbitrarily large point sets in general position,
with , such that at most points can be -covered.
(4) If , then at least points of
can be -covered. For , there are too many red points and at
least of them will remain uncovered in any -covering.
Furthermore, in all the cases we provide efficient algorithms to compute the
corresponding coverings.Comment: 29 pages, 10 figures, 1 tabl
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