An approximation algorithm for graph partitioning via deterministic annealing neural network

Graph partitioning, a classical NP-hard combinatorial optimization problem, is widely applied to industrial or management problems. In this study, an approximated solution of the graph partitioning problem is obtained by using a deterministic annealing neural network algorithm. The algorithm is a continuation method that attempts to obtain a high-quality solution by following a path of minimum points of a barrier problem as the barrier parameter is reduced from a sufficiently large positive number to 0. With the barrier parameter assumed to be any positive number, one minimum solution of the barrier problem can be found by the algorithm in a feasible descent direction. With a globally convergent iterative procedure, the feasible descent direction could be obtained by renewing Lagrange multipliers red. A distinctive feature of it is that the upper and lower bounds on the variables will be automatically satisfied on the condition that the step length is a value from 0 to 1. Four well-known algorithms are compared with the proposed one on 100 test samples. Simulation results show effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.