What is the purpose of the temperature parameter in Simulated Annealing?
The temperature parameter in Simulated Annealing controls the probability of accepting worse solutions during the search. Initially, the temperature is high, allowing the algorithm to explore a wide range of solutions, including those that degrade the current route. As the search progresses, the temperature is gradually lowered, reducing the probability of accepting worse moves and causing the algorithm to converge towards a local optimum.
Conditions
- The algorithm is in the early stages of the search.
- The temperature is initially high.
- The temperature decreases over time according to a cooling schedule.
Reasoning, step by step
- Set an initial high temperature.
- Propose a change to the current solution.
- If the change is an improvement, accept it.
- If the change is a degradation, accept it with a probability that is higher when the temperature is high.
- Gradually decrease the temperature.
- As the temperature drops, the probability of accepting degradations becomes small, leading to convergence.
Example
The video explains, "The search life span in simulated annealing is measured by its temperature," and shows the 'Temp' value decreasing from 96.53 to 7.04 while the distance generally decreases but occasionally increases.
Common misconceptions
- Believing that the temperature parameter directly represents the physical temperature of the system.
- Assuming that a lower temperature always prevents the acceptance of any worse solutions.
Watch the explanation
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