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An O(V 5/3 E 2/3) algorithm for the maximal flow problem

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Summary

A new algorithm for finding a maximal flow in a given network is presented. The algorithm runs in time O(V 5/3 E 2/3), where V and E are the number of the vertices and edges in the network.

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Abbreviations

balance a vertex υ :

reduce the flow in in (υ) until υ is balanced

balanced vertex:

a vertex υ with excess (υ) = 0

big edge:

an edge in FOREST which represents an open path in SL i

c(e):

the capacity of a (small) edge in the layered network

c(ê):

the capacity of a big edge ê, which equals the minimal residual capacity of a small edge on the corresponding path

closed edge:

an edge that has been closed by the algorithm either because it became saturated or because it led to a closed vertex

closed vertex:

a vertex υ, υt, such that all edges in out (υ) are closed

degree(\(\hat \upsilon \)):

the number of big edges entering a junction \(\hat \upsilon \)

Δ(υ):

a doubly linked list containing all edges e in in(υ) with newflow (e)>0

excess(υ):

\(\sum\limits_{e \in in(\upsilon )} {f(e) - } \sum\limits_{e \in out(\upsilon )} {f(e)} \)

excess (\(\hat \upsilon \)):

the sum of newflow (ê) for ê in LIST (\(\hat \upsilon \)) minus newflow of the big edge that leaves \(\hat \upsilon \). (The corresponding term for êoldflow's is zero)

f(e):

the flow in the edge e

front layer of SL i :

the layer in SL i closest to t

in(υ):

the list of edges that enter υ in the layered network

junction:

a vertex in FOREST i

i :

the number of the calls to PUSH(i)

LIST(ê):

the list of the small edges on the path corresponding to a big edge ê

LIST(û):

the list of the big edges entering a junction û

list j :

the list of big edges in FOREST i which start at V j

m :

the number of special vertices

m i :

the number of vertices in the rear layer of SL i

marked vertex:

a vertex on a path that corresponds to a big edge

micropush:

a push of flow from a microsource

microsource:

an open vertex that becomes positive during BALANCE(i)

newflow(e):

the total flow increment in a (small) edge e = (u, υ) in SL i since the last call to PUSH (i), that pushed flow into υ

newflow (ê):

the total flow increment in a big edge ê in FOREST i since the last call to PUSH(i)

open edge:

an edge that has not been closed by the algorithm; an open edge cannot be saturated and cannot lead to a closed vertex

open vertex υ :

a vertex υ such that either υ = t or there are open edges in out(υ)

open path:

a path consisting of open edges and open vertices

out(υ):

the list of edges that leave υ in the layered network

positive vertex:

a vertex υ, υt, with excess (υ)>0

pushnumber(υ):

the number of the last PUSH(i) that pushed flow into υ

rear layer of SL i :

the layer in SL i closest to s. Its vertices belong to SL i −1

saturated edge:

an edge e with f(e) = c(e)

SL i :

the i-th superlayer

small edge:

an edge in the layered network

special vertex:

a vertex in a special layer

special layer:

a layer chosen by the algorithm as special

superlayer:

the part of the layered network between two consecutive special layers

totalflow(e):

f(e) + oldflow (ê) + newflow (ê), if e ε LIST (ê) and f(e) otherwise

verynewflow(e):

part of newflow (ê) used for balancing junctions; modified like newflow (ê) except for the case when it is set to zero when a big edge below it is deleted

V p :

the rear layer of SL i

V q :

the front layer of SL i

x :

the bound on the number of layers in a superlayer

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We use the notation A = 0(B) [A = Ω(B)] for A ≦ cB [A ≧ cB], and A = θ(B) for c 1 B≦A ≦ c 2 B where c, c 1and c 2are positive constants. (The same constants for all the occurrences of this notation)

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Galil, Z. An O(V 5/3 E 2/3) algorithm for the maximal flow problem. Acta Informatica 14, 221–242 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00264254

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