Algorithms for string and graph layout

Many graph optimization problems can be viewed as graph layout problems. A layout of a graph is a geometric arrangement of the vertices subject to given constraints. For example, the vertices of a graph can be arranged on a line or a circle, on a two- or three-dimensional lattice, etc. The goal is usually to place all the vertices so as to optimize some specified objective function. We develop combinatorial methods as well as models based on linear and semidefinite programming for graph layout problems. We apply these techniques to some well-known optimization problems. In particular, we give improved approximation algorithms for the string folding problem on the two- and three-dimensional square lattices. This combinatorial graph problem is motivated by the protein folding problem, which is central in computational biology. We then present a new semidefinite programming formulation for the linear ordering problem (also known as the maximum acyclic subgraph problem) and show that it provides an improved bound on the value of an optimal solution for random graphs. This is the first relaxation that improves on the trivial "all edges" bound for random graphs.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2004

Author dc:creator

• Newman, Alantha.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Santosh S. Vempala.

• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28745

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/28745