The transfer-matrix and max-plus algebra method for global combinatorial optimization: Application to cyclic and polyhedral water clusters

A new method for the combinatorial optimization of quasi-one-dimensional systems is presented. This method is in close analogy with the well-known transfer-matrix method. The method allows for the calculation of the lowest energy levels of the system. However, when finding the ground and some low-lying states of large complex systems, this method is more economical when compared to the standard transfer-matrix method. The method presented here is based on max-plus algebra, which has maximization and addition as its basic arithmetic operations. For the explanation of this method we use cyclic water clusters as simple examples. The efficiency of the max-plus-algebraic method is demonstrated in the course of global combinatorial optimization of hydrogen bond arrangements in large polyhedral water clusters with fixed positions of the oxygen atoms. The energy of the clusters is estimated using approximate discrete models for the intermolecular interactions.