597 research outputs found
Packing Plane Perfect Matchings into a Point Set
Given a set of points in the plane, where is even, we consider
the following question: How many plane perfect matchings can be packed into
? We prove that at least plane perfect matchings
can be packed into any point set . For some special configurations of point
sets, we give the exact answer. We also consider some extensions of this
problem
An ETH-Tight Exact Algorithm for Euclidean TSP
We study exact algorithms for {\sc Euclidean TSP} in . In the
early 1990s algorithms with running time were presented for
the planar case, and some years later an algorithm with
running time was presented for any . Despite significant interest in
subexponential exact algorithms over the past decade, there has been no
progress on {\sc Euclidean TSP}, except for a lower bound stating that the
problem admits no algorithm unless ETH fails. Up to
constant factors in the exponent, we settle the complexity of {\sc Euclidean
TSP} by giving a algorithm and by showing that a
algorithm does not exist unless ETH fails.Comment: To appear in FOCS 201
A Geometric Theory for Hypergraph Matching
We develop a theory for the existence of perfect matchings in hypergraphs
under quite general conditions. Informally speaking, the obstructions to
perfect matchings are geometric, and are of two distinct types: 'space
barriers' from convex geometry, and 'divisibility barriers' from arithmetic
lattice-based constructions. To formulate precise results, we introduce the
setting of simplicial complexes with minimum degree sequences, which is a
generalisation of the usual minimum degree condition. We determine the
essentially best possible minimum degree sequence for finding an almost perfect
matching. Furthermore, our main result establishes the stability property:
under the same degree assumption, if there is no perfect matching then there
must be a space or divisibility barrier. This allows the use of the stability
method in proving exact results. Besides recovering previous results, we apply
our theory to the solution of two open problems on hypergraph packings: the
minimum degree threshold for packing tetrahedra in 3-graphs, and Fischer's
conjecture on a multipartite form of the Hajnal-Szemer\'edi Theorem. Here we
prove the exact result for tetrahedra and the asymptotic result for Fischer's
conjecture; since the exact result for the latter is technical we defer it to a
subsequent paper.Comment: Accepted for publication in Memoirs of the American Mathematical
Society. 101 pages. v2: minor changes including some additional diagrams and
passages of expository tex
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
Minimal symmetric differences of lines in projective planes
Let q be an odd prime power and let f(r) be the minimum size of the symmetric
difference of r lines in the Desarguesian projective plane PG(2,q). We prove
some results about the function f(r), in particular showing that there exists a
constant C>0 such that f(r)=O(q) for Cq^{3/2}<r<q^2 - Cq^{3/2}.Comment: 16 pages + 2 pages of tables. This is a slightly revised version of
the previous one (Thm 6 has been improved, and a few points explained
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