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Approximation Algorithms for the Bottleneck Asymmetric Traveling Salesman Problem

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Book cover Approximation, Randomization, and Combinatorial Optimization. Algorithms and Techniques (RANDOM 2010, APPROX 2010)

Abstract

We present the first nontrivial approximation algorithm for the bottleneck asymmetric traveling salesman problem. Given an asymmetric metric cost between n vertices, the problem is to find a Hamiltonian cycle that minimizes its bottleneck (or maximum-length edge) cost. We achieve an O(logn / loglogn) approximation performance guarantee by giving a novel algorithmic technique to shortcut Eulerian circuits while bounding the lengths of the shortcuts needed. This allows us to build on the recent result of Asadpour, Goemans, Mądry, Oveis Gharan, and Saberi to obtain this guarantee. Furthermore, we show how our technique yields stronger approximation bounds in some cases, such as the bounded orientable genus case studied by Oveis Gharan and Saberi.

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An, HC., Kleinberg, R.D., Shmoys, D.B. (2010). Approximation Algorithms for the Bottleneck Asymmetric Traveling Salesman Problem. In: Serna, M., Shaltiel, R., Jansen, K., Rolim, J. (eds) Approximation, Randomization, and Combinatorial Optimization. Algorithms and Techniques. RANDOM APPROX 2010 2010. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 6302. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-15369-3_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-15369-3_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-15368-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-15369-3

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