Stochastic And Global Optimization

This self-contained text provides a solid introduction to global and nonlinear optimization, providing students of mathematics and interdisciplinary sciences with a strong foundation in applied optimization techniques. The book offers a unique hands-on and critical approach to applied optimization which includes the presentation of numerous algorithms, examples, and illustrations, designed to improve the reader’s intuition and develop the analytical skills needed to identify optimization problems, classify the structure of a model, and determine whether a solution fulfills optimality conditions.

In 1995 the Handbook of Global Optimization (first volume), edited by R. Horst, and P.M. Pardalos, was published. This second volume of the Handbook of Global Optimization is comprised of chapters dealing with modern approaches to global optimization, including different types of heuristics.

The field of global optimization has been developing at a rapid pace. There is a journal devoted to the topic, as well as many publications and notable books discussing various aspects of global optimization. This book is intended to complement these other publications with a focus on stochastic methods for global optimization. Stochastic methods, such as simulated annealing and genetic algo­ rithms, are gaining in popularity among practitioners and engineers be­ they are relatively easy to program on a computer and may be cause applied to a broad class of global optimization problems.

Intended for advanced undergraduate/graduate students as well as scientists and engineers, this textbook presents a multi-disciplinary view of optimization, providing a thorough examination of algorithms, methods, techniques, and tools from diverse areas of optimization.