Related papers: An Exponential Lower Bound for the Runtime of the …
In the first and so far only mathematical runtime analysis of an estimation-of-distribution algorithm (EDA) on a multimodal problem, Hasen\"ohrl and Sutton (GECCO 2018) showed for any $k = o(n)$ that the compact genetic algorithm (cGA) with…
We prove that the compact genetic algorithm (cGA) with hypothetical population size $\mu = \Omega(\sqrt n \log n) \cap \text{poly}(n)$ with high probability finds the optimum of any $n$-dimensional jump function with jump size $k < \frac 1…
The compact genetic algorithm (cGA) is one of the simplest estimation-of-distribution algorithms (EDAs). Next to the univariate marginal distribution algorithm (UMDA) -- another simple EDA -- , the cGA has been subject to extensive…
A class of metaheuristic techniques called estimation-of-distribution algorithms (EDAs) are employed in optimization as more sophisticated substitutes for traditional strategies like evolutionary algorithms. EDAs generally drive the search…
Most evolutionary algorithms (EAs) used in practice employ crossover. In contrast, only for few and mostly artificial examples a runtime advantage from crossover could be proven with mathematical means. The most convincing such result shows…
It was recently observed that the $(1+(\lambda,\lambda))$ genetic algorithm can comparably easily escape the local optimum of the jump functions benchmark. Consequently, this algorithm can optimize the jump function with jump size $k$ in an…
Unlike traditional evolutionary algorithms which produce offspring via genetic operators, Estimation of Distribution Algorithms (EDAs) sample solutions from probabilistic models which are learned from selected individuals. It is hoped that…
We consider the expected runtime of non-elitist evolutionary algorithms (EAs), when they are applied to a family of fitness functions with a plateau of second-best fitness in a Hamming ball of radius r around a unique global optimum. On one…
This paper extends the runtime analysis of non-elitist evolutionary algorithms (EAs) with fitness-proportionate selection from the simple OneMax function to the linear functions. Not only does our analysis cover a larger class of fitness…
We argue that proven exponential upper bounds on runtimes, an established area in classic algorithms, are interesting also in heuristic search and we prove several such results. We show that any of the algorithms randomized local search,…
The $(1 + (\lambda,\lambda))$ genetic algorithm is a younger evolutionary algorithm trying to profit also from inferior solutions. Rigorous runtime analyses on unimodal fitness functions showed that it can indeed be faster than classical…
With elementary means, we prove a stronger run time guarantee for the univariate marginal distribution algorithm (UMDA) optimizing the LeadingOnes benchmark function in the desirable regime with low genetic drift. If the population size is…
Jump functions are the {most-studied} non-unimodal benchmark in the theory of randomized search heuristics, in particular, evolutionary algorithms (EAs). They have significantly improved our understanding of how EAs escape from local…
One hope when using non-elitism in evolutionary computation is that the ability to abandon the current-best solution aids leaving local optima. To improve our understanding of this mechanism, we perform a rigorous runtime analysis of a…
Estimation-of-distribution algorithms (EDAs) are optimization algorithms that learn a distribution on the search space from which good solutions can be sampled easily. A key parameter of most EDAs is the sample size (population size). If…
Evolutionary algorithms (EAs) are population-based general-purpose optimization algorithms, and have been successfully applied in various real-world optimization tasks. However, previous theoretical studies often employ EAs with only a…
Estimation-of-distribution algorithms (EDAs) are randomized search heuristics that create a probabilistic model of the solution space, which is updated iteratively, based on the quality of the solutions sampled according to the model. As…
For genetic algorithms using a bit-string representation of length~$n$, the general recommendation is to take $1/n$ as mutation rate. In this work, we discuss whether this is really justified for multimodal functions. Taking jump functions…
Understanding when evolutionary algorithms are efficient or not, and how they efficiently solve problems, is one of the central research tasks in evolutionary computation. In this work, we make progress in understanding the interplay…
The JUMP$_k$ benchmark was the first problem for which crossover was proven to give a speed-up over mutation-only evolutionary algorithms. Jansen and Wegener (2002) proved an upper bound of $O(\text{poly}(n) + 4^k/p_c)$ for the ($\mu$+1)…