A Theory of Alternating Paths and Blossoms, from the Perspective of Minimum Length

Explore a two-part lecture series delving into the Micali-Vazirani (MV) algorithm for finding maximum cardinality matching in general graphs. Discover the algorithm's significance, its recent proof completion after four decades, and its enduring efficiency. Learn about the challenges posed by minimum length augmenting paths and the innovative solutions employed. Gain insights into the powerful graph search procedure of double depth-first search (DDFS) and its crucial role in the algorithm and its proof. Dive deep into the new theory of alternating paths and blossoms from the perspective of minimum length paths, understanding the algorithm's intricate workings. Presented by distinguished professor Vijay Vazirani from the University of California, Irvine, this comprehensive exploration offers valuable knowledge for those interested in combinatorial optimization and graph theory.