A review of the Statistical Mechanics approach to Random Optimization Problems

Abstract

We review the connection between statistical mechanics and the analysis of random optimization problems, with particular emphasis on the random k-SAT problem. We discuss and characterize the different phase transitions that are met in these problems, starting from basic concepts. We also discuss how statistical mechanics methods can be used to investigate the behavior of local search and decimation based algorithms.

26 pages, 8 figures. Contribution to the book "Handbook of Satisfiability" to be published in 2008 by IOS press