A New Approximation Algorithm for the Minimum 2-Edge-Connected Spanning Subgraph Problem

Abstract

We present a new approximation algorithm for the minimum 2-edge-connected spanning subgraph problem. Its approximation ratio is $\frac{4}{3}$, which matches the current best ratio. The approximation ratio of the algorithm is $\frac{6}{5}$ on subcubic graphs, which is an improvement upon the previous best ratio of $\frac{5}{4}$. The algorithm is a novel extension of the primal-dual schema, which consists of two distinct phases. Both the algorithm and the analysis are much simpler than those of the previous approaches.

This was an early and insufficiently verified attempt. Errors affecting the main results were later identified, and the manuscript has been withdrawn