## An Improved LP-based Approximation for Steiner Tree

The Steiner tree problem is one of the most fundamental $\mathbf{NP}$-hard problems: given a weighted undirected graph and a subset of terminal nodes, find a minimum-cost tree spanning the terminals. In a sequence of papers, the approximation ratio for this problem was improved from $2$ to the current best $1.55$ [Robins,Zelikovsky-SIDMA'05]. All these algorithms are purely combinatorial. A long-standing open problem is whether there is an LP-relaxation for Steiner tree with integrality gap smaller than $2$ [Vazirani,Rajagopalan-SODA'99]. In this paper we improve the approximation factor for Steiner tree, developing an LP-based approximation algorithm. Our algorithm is based on a, seemingly novel, \emph{iterative randomized rounding} technique. We consider a directed-component cut relaxation for the $k$-restricted Steiner tree problem. We sample one of these components with probability proportional to the value of the associated variable in the optimal fractional solution and contract it. We iterate this process for a proper number of times and finally output the sampled components together with a minimum-cost terminal spanning tree in the remaining graph. Our algorithm delivers a solution of cost at most $\ln(4)$ times the cost of an optimal $k$-restricted Steiner tree. This directly implies a $\ln(4)+\varepsilon<1.39$ approximation for Steiner tree. As a byproduct of our analysis, we show that the integrality gap of our LP is at most $1.55$, hence answering to the mentioned open question. This might have consequences for a number of related problems.

Published in:
42th ACM Symposium on Theory of Computing (STOC 2010, Best Paper Award)
Presented at:
42th ACM Symposium on Theory of Computing (STOC 2010), Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, June 6-8, 2010
Year:
2010
Publisher:
Acm Order Department, P O Box 64145, Baltimore, Md 21264 Usa
Keywords:
Note:
Best Paper Award
Laboratories: