Solving the Hamiltonian path problem with a light-based computer

Abstract. In this paper we suggest the use of light for performing useful computations. Namely, we propose a special computational device which uses light rays for solving the Hamiltonian path problem on a directed graph. The device has a graph-like representation and the light is traversing it by following the routes given by the connections between nodes. In each node the rays are uniquely marked so that they can be easily identified. At the destination node we will search only for particular rays that have passed only once through each node. We show that the proposed device can solve small and medium instances of the problem in reasonable time.

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2007
• Where: CORR
• Authors: Mihai Oltean
• Keywords: CORR 2007, Education, Hamiltonian Path Problem, Light Rays, Special Computational Device