Euclidean TSP with few inner points in linear space

Given a set of $n$ points in the Euclidean plane, such that just $k$ points are strictly inside the convex hull of the whole set, we want to find the shortest tour visiting every point. The fastest known algorithm for the version when $k$ is significantly smaller than $n$, i.e., when there are just few inner points, works in $O(k^{11\sqrt{k}} k^{1.5} n^{3})$ time [Knauer and Spillner, WG 2006], but also requires space of order $k^{c\sqrt{k}}n^{2}$. The best linear space algorithm takes $O(k! k n)$ time [Deineko, Hoffmann, Okamoto, Woeginer, Oper. Res. Lett. 34(1), 106-110]. We construct a linear space $O(nk^2+k^{O(\sqrt{k})})$ time algorithm. The new insight is extending the known divide-and-conquer method based on planar separators with a matching-based argument to shrink the instance in every recursive call. This argument also shows that the problem admits a quadratic bikernel.Comment: under submissio

Renormalization for Discrete Optimization

The renormalization group has proven to be a very powerful tool in physics for treating systems with many length scales. Here we show how it can be adapted to provide a new class of algorithms for discrete optimization. The heart of our method uses renormalization and recursion, and these processes are embedded in a genetic algorithm. The system is self-consistently optimized on all scales, leading to a high probability of finding the ground state configuration. To demonstrate the generality of such an approach, we perform tests on traveling salesman and spin glass problems. The results show that our ``genetic renormalization algorithm'' is extremely powerful.Comment: 4 pages, no figur

Fast movement strategies for a step-and-scan wafer stepper

We describe algorithms for the determination of fast movement strategies for a step-and-scan wafer stepper, a device that is used for the photolithographic processing of integrated circuits. The proposed solution strategy consists of two parts. First, we determine the maximum number of congruent rectangular chips that can be packed on a wafer, subject to the restriction that the chips are placed in a rectangular grid. Second, we find fast movement strategies for scanning all chips of a given packing, given the mechanical restrictions of the wafer stepper. The corresponding combinatorial optimization problem is formulated as a generalized asymmetric traveling salesman problem. We show how feasible scan strategies are determined, and how these strategies are improved by local search techniques, such as iterative improvement based on 2- and 3-exchanges, and simulated annealing based on 2-exchanges.\ud \u