Solution space heterogeneity of the random K-satisfiability problem: Theory and simulations

The random K-satisfiability (K-SAT) problem is an important problem for studying typical-case complexity of NP-complete combinatorial satisfaction; it is also a representative model of finite-connectivity spin-glasses. In this paper we review our recent efforts on the solution space fine structures of the random K-SAT problem. A heterogeneity transition is predicted to occur in the solution space as the constraint density alpha reaches a critical value alpha_cm. This transition marks the emergency of exponentially many solution communities in the solution space. After the heterogeneity transition the solution space is still ergodic until alpha reaches a larger threshold value alpha_d, at which the solution communities disconnect from each other to become different solution clusters (ergodicity-breaking). The existence of solution communities in the solution space is confirmed by numerical simulations of solution space random walking, and the effect of solution space heterogeneity on a stochastic local search algorithm SEQSAT, which performs a random walk of single-spin flips, is investigated. The relevance of this work to glassy dynamics studies is briefly mentioned.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures. Final version as will appear in Journal of Physics: Conference Series (Proceedings of the International Workshop on Statistical-Mechanical Informatics, March 7-10, 2010, Kyoto, Japan

Distribution of equilibrium free energies in a thermodynamic system with broken ergodicity

At low temperatures the configurational phase space of a macroscopic complex system (e.g., a spin-glass) of $N\sim 10^{23}$ interacting particles may split into an exponential number $\Omega_s \sim \exp({\rm const} \times N)$ of ergodic sub-spaces (thermodynamic states). Previous theoretical studies assumed that the equilibrium collective behavior of such a system is determined by its ground thermodynamic states of the minimal free-energy density, and that the equilibrium free energies follow the distribution of exponential decay. Here we show that these assumptions are not necessarily valid. For some complex systems, the equilibrium free-energy values may follow a Gaussian distribution within an intermediate temperature range, and consequently their equilibrium properties are contributed by {\em excited} thermodynamic states. This work will help improving our understanding of the equilibrium statistical mechanics of spin-glasses and other complex systems.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure

MM Algorithms for Geometric and Signomial Programming

This paper derives new algorithms for signomial programming, a generalization of geometric programming. The algorithms are based on a generic principle for optimization called the MM algorithm. In this setting, one can apply the geometric-arithmetic mean inequality and a supporting hyperplane inequality to create a surrogate function with parameters separated. Thus, unconstrained signomial programming reduces to a sequence of one-dimensional minimization problems. Simple examples demonstrate that the MM algorithm derived can converge to a boundary point or to one point of a continuum of minimum points. Conditions under which the minimum point is unique or occurs in the interior of parameter space are proved for geometric programming. Convergence to an interior point occurs at a linear rate. Finally, the MM framework easily accommodates equality and inequality constraints of signomial type. For the most important special case, constrained quadratic programming, the MM algorithm involves very simple updates.Comment: 16 pages, 1 figur

Study of Proton Magic Even-Even Isotopes and Giant Halos of Ca Isotopes with Relativistic Continuum Hartree-Bogoliubov Theory

We study the proton magic O, Ca, Ni, Zr, Sn, and Pb isotope chains from the proton drip line to the neutron drip line with the relativistic continuum Hartree-Bogoliubov (RCHB) theory. Particulary, we study in detail the properties of even-even Ca isotopes due to the appearance of giant halos in neutron rich Ca nuclei near the neutron drip line. The RCHB theory is able to reproduce the experimental binding energies $E_b$ and two neutron separation energies $S_{2n}$ very well. The predicted neutron drip line nuclei are $^{28}$O, $^{72}$Ca, $^{98}$Ni, $^{136}$Zr, $^{176}$Sn, and $^{266}$Pb, respectively. Halo and giant halo properties predicted in Ca isotopes with $A>60$ are investigated in detail from the analysis of two neutron separation energies, nucleon density distributions, single particle energy levels, the occupation probabilities of energy levels including continuum states. The spin-orbit splitting and the diffuseness of nuclear potential in these Ca isotopes are studied also. Furthermore, we study the neighboring lighter isotopes in the drip line Ca region and find some possibility of giant halo nuclei in the Ne-Na-Mg drip line nuclei.Comment: 45 pages, 20 figure

Ground-State Fidelity and Kosterlitz-Thouless Phase Transition for Spin 1/2 Heisenberg Chain with Next-to-the-Nearest-Neighbor Interaction

The Kosterlitz-Thouless transition for the spin 1/2 Heisenberg chain with the next-to-the-nearest-neighbor interaction is investigated in the context of an infinite matrix product state algorithm, which is a generalization of the infinite time-evolving block decimation algorithm [G. Vidal, Phys. Rev. Lett. \textbf{98}, 070201 (2007)] to accommodate both the next-to-the-nearest-neighbor interaction and spontaneous dimerization. It is found that, in the critical regime, the algorithm automatically leads to infinite degenerate ground-state wave functions, due to the finiteness of the truncation dimension. This results in \textit{pseudo} symmetry spontaneous breakdown, as reflected in a bifurcation in the ground-state fidelity per lattice site. In addition, this allows to introduce a pseudo-order parameter to characterize the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure