Quasi-Stability of real coded finite populations

Abstract

This contribution analyzes dynamics of mean and variance of real chromosomes in consecutive populations of an Evolutionary Algorithm with selection and mutation. Quasi-stable state is characterized with an area in which population mean and variance will remain roughly unchanged for many generations. Size of the area can be indirectly estimated from the infinite population analysis and is influenced by the population size, selection type and parameter, and the mutation variance. The paper gives formulas that define this influence and illustrates them with numerical examples.