We compare algorithms for the construction of a minimum spanning tree through large-scale experimentation on randomly generated graphs of different structures and different densities. In order to extrapolate with confidence, we use graphs with up to 130,000 nodes (sparse) or 750,000 edges (dense). Algorithms included in our experiments are Prim's algorithm (implemented with a variety of priority queues), Kruskal's algorithm (using presorting or demand sorting), Cheriton and Tarjan's algorithm, and Fredman and Tarjan 's algorithm. We also ran a large variety of tests to investigate low-level implementation decisions for the data structures, as well as to enable us to eliminate the effect of compilers and architectures. Within the range of sizes used, Prim's algorithm, using pairing heaps or sometimes binary heaps, is clearly preferable. While versions of Prim's algorithm using efficient implementations of Fibonacci heaps or rankrelaxed heaps often approach and (on the densest graphs) so...

We give improved solutions for the problem of generating the k smallest spanning trees in a graph and in the plane. Our algorithm for general graphs takes time O(m log #(m, n)+k 2 ); for planar graphs this bound can be improved to O(n + k 2 ). We also show that the k best spanning trees for a set of points in the plane can be computed in time O(min(k 2 n + n log n, k 2 + kn log(n/k))). The k best orthogonal spanning trees in the plane can be found in time O(n log n + kn log log(n/k)+k 2 ).

We address the question of theoretical vs. practical behavior of algorithms for the minimum spanning tree problem. We review the factors that influence the actual running time of an algorithm, from choice of language, machine, and compiler, through low-level implementation choices, to purely algorithmic issues. We discuss how to design a careful experimental comparison between various alternatives. Finally, we present some results from an ongoing study in which we are using: multiple languages, compilers, and machines; all the major variants of the comparison-based algorithms; and eight varieties of graphs with sizes of up to 130,000 vertices (in sparse graphs) or 750,000 edges (in dense graphs). 1 Introduction Finding spanning trees of minimum weight (minimum spanning trees or MSTs) is one of the best known graph problems; algorithms for this problem have a long history, for which see the article of Graham and Hell [6]. The best comparison-based algorithm to date, due to Gabow...