ISSN:
1436-4646
Keywords:
Steiner trees
;
approximation performance ratio
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Computer Science
,
Mathematics
Notes:
Abstract Finding a shortest network interconnecting a given set of points in a metric space is called the Steiner minimum tree problem. The Steiner ratio is the largest lower bound for the ratio between lengths of a Steiner minimum tree and a minimum spanning tree for the same set of points. In this paper, we show that in a metric space, if the Steiner ratio is less than one and finding a Steiner minimum tree for a set of size bounded by a fixed number can be performed in polynomial time, then there exists a polynomialtime heuristic for the Steiner minimum tree problem with performance ratio bigger than the Steiner ratio. It follows that in the Euclidean plane, there exists a polynomial-time heuristic for Steiner minimum trees with performance ratio bigger than $${\textstyle{1 \over 2}}\sqrt 3 $$ . This solves a long-standing open problem.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01581080
