English

Fast Parallel Fixed-Parameter Algorithms via Color Coding

Computational Complexity 2015-09-24 v1 Data Structures and Algorithms

Abstract

Fixed-parameter algorithms have been successfully applied to solve numerous difficult problems within acceptable time bounds on large inputs. However, most fixed-parameter algorithms are inherently \emph{sequential} and, thus, make no use of the parallel hardware present in modern computers. We show that parallel fixed-parameter algorithms do not only exist for numerous parameterized problems from the literature -- including vertex cover, packing problems, cluster editing, cutting vertices, finding embeddings, or finding matchings -- but that there are parallel algorithms working in \emph{constant} time or at least in time \emph{depending only on the parameter} (and not on the size of the input) for these problems. Phrased in terms of complexity classes, we place numerous natural parameterized problems in parameterized versions of AC0^0. On a more technical level, we show how the \emph{color coding} method can be implemented in constant time and apply it to embedding problems for graphs of bounded tree-width or tree-depth and to model checking first-order formulas in graphs of bounded degree.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1509.06984,
  title  = {Fast Parallel Fixed-Parameter Algorithms via Color Coding},
  author = {Max Bannach and Christoph Stockhusen and Till Tantau},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1509.06984},
  year   = {2015}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-22T11:03:38.616Z