A Simple Randomized $O(n \log n)$--Time Closest-Pair Algorithm in Doubling Metrics

Abstract: Consider a metric space $(P,dist)$ with $N$ points whose doubling dimension is a constant. We present a simple, randomized, and recursive algorithm that computes, in $O(N \log N)$ expected time, the closest-pair distance in $P$. To generate recursive calls, we use previous results of Har-Peled and Mendel, and Abam and Har-Peled for computing a sparse annulus that separates the points in a balanced way.