We have explored the evolution of the efficiency of generalized simulated annealing (GSA) through a comparative study with classical simulated annealing (CSA) and fast simulated annealing (FSA). Our calculations on the Thomson model and nickel clusters show that the relative efficiency of GSA compared to CSA and FSA increases with the number of variables of the objective function. Thus, relative to CSA and FSA, the more complex the system, the more efficient is the GSA method.

• Received 16 August 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.62.4473