3.4 Stochastic Optimization

Finding the global extremum of a function of many variables:
- Nonlinear fit to a set of table values
- improvement of complex electronic circuits (``travelling salesman problem'')
- find the most stable (i. e. lowest energy) configuration of microclusters or biopolymers.
- $\dots$

Two methods:

- Simulated Annealing

- Genetic Algorithms