Searching for optimal configurations by simulated tunneling

Optimization theory deals with algorithms finding the lowest cost (energy) configuration in a minimal number of steps. When the cost function has many local minima, the deterministic algorithms become easily trapped in suboptimal solutions. The simulated annealing method tries to overcome this difficulty by introducting thermal noise in the problem. Here we explore the possibility of implementing search procedures analogous to the quantum tunneling effect. The suggested dynamics is a guided diffusion process of an interactingpopulation of configurations. Different dynamical aspects of the search process are formulated first in a simple one-dimensional tight-binding model with a hierarchical potential. The new algorithm is then applied to the Traveling Salesman Problem. It is demonstrated that the use of interacting, evolving populations of tours representing our wave packet leads to systematic improvements and possibly, to the optimal tour. In addition, the structure of the cost function landscape for a given instance becomes locally accessible. The performance of the algorithm and its implications for parallel computing and genetic programming are briefly discussed.     

CHEMILUMINESCENCE FROM THE OXIDATION OF AUXIN DERIVATIVES

Abstract— The thiophenyl ester of indole-3-acetic acid and indole-3-acetonitrile produce chemiluminescence in aerated dimethylsulfoxide in the presence of potassium t -butoxide. The emitter is the aromatic aldehyde. In the case of acetonitrile, the other product expected from the cleavage of an intermediate dioxetane, cyanate/isocyanate, has also been identified. Other auxins also chemiluminesce under similar conditions, but the emitters have not been properly identified.
These systems are models for the peroxidase catalyzed oxidation of indole-3-acetic acid to indole-3-carboxaldehyde and as such support the earlier inference (Vidigal et al , 1975) that the excited aldehyde is generated in the enzymic process.
An additional result is the observation of an exciplex between excited indole-3-carboxaldehyde and the thiophenylester of indole-3-acetic acid. This appears to be the first case of chemical generation of an exciplex by a route other than radical ion reaction, presumably by the dioxetane route.     

Buchbesprechungen

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Das Grenzflächenverhalten von Carboxymethylcellulose an Baumwolle

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Photoreaktionen kleiner organischer Moleküle. 4. Mitt. Absorptions-spektren,Photoionen- und Resonanzphotoelektronenspektren von Vinylbromid.

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