Automated Tabu Tenure Tuning by Trajectory Metrics for Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization

Abstract Tabu Search is a promising approach for solving quadratic unconstrained binary optimization (QUBO) problems. A key parameter in Tabu Search is tabu tenure, which governs the balance between intensification and diversification in the search process. In this work, we aim to develop a systematic method for determining the effective tabu tenure tailored to each QUBO instance, thereby enhancing overall solver performance. To achieve this, we focus on the statistics obtained during the search, which we term “trajectory metrics.” We consolidate existing trajectory metrics from the literature with newly proposed ones and analyze their responses to variations in tabu tenure using three criteria: suitability for tuning, noise robustness, and classification potential. Based on this analysis, we introduce a method for determining the effective tabu tenure and evaluate its performance across several problem instances. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach improves solving performance compared to a well-known standard Tabu Search-based method.