Modeling Local Search Metaheuristics Using Markov Decision Processes

Fuente: arXiv
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1. Verfasser: Ruiz-Torrubiano, Rubén
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2024
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author Ruiz-Torrubiano, Rubén
author_facet Ruiz-Torrubiano, Rubén
contents Local search metaheuristics like tabu search or simulated annealing are popular heuristic optimization algorithms for finding near-optimal solutions for combinatorial optimization problems. However, it is still challenging for researchers and practitioners to analyze their behaviour and systematically choose one over a vast set of possible metaheuristics for the particular problem at hand. In this paper, we introduce a theoretical framework based on Markov Decision Processes (MDP) for analyzing local search metaheuristics. This framework not only helps in providing convergence results for individual algorithms, but also provides an explicit characterization of the exploration-exploitation tradeoff and a theory-grounded guidance for practitioners for choosing an appropriate metaheuristic for the problem at hand. We present this framework in detail and show how to apply it in the case of hill climbing and the simulated annealing algorithm.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2407_19904
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Modeling Local Search Metaheuristics Using Markov Decision Processes
Ruiz-Torrubiano, Rubén
Neural and Evolutionary Computing
68T20
I.2.8
Local search metaheuristics like tabu search or simulated annealing are popular heuristic optimization algorithms for finding near-optimal solutions for combinatorial optimization problems. However, it is still challenging for researchers and practitioners to analyze their behaviour and systematically choose one over a vast set of possible metaheuristics for the particular problem at hand. In this paper, we introduce a theoretical framework based on Markov Decision Processes (MDP) for analyzing local search metaheuristics. This framework not only helps in providing convergence results for individual algorithms, but also provides an explicit characterization of the exploration-exploitation tradeoff and a theory-grounded guidance for practitioners for choosing an appropriate metaheuristic for the problem at hand. We present this framework in detail and show how to apply it in the case of hill climbing and the simulated annealing algorithm.
title Modeling Local Search Metaheuristics Using Markov Decision Processes
topic Neural and Evolutionary Computing
68T20
I.2.8
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.19904