  We numerically investigate the performance of the short path optimization
algorithm on a toy problem, with the potential chosen to depend only on the
total Hamming weight to allow simulation of larger systems. We consider classes
of potentials with multiple minima which cause the adiabatic algorithm to
experience difficulties with small gaps. The numerical investigation allows us
to consider a broader range of parameters than was studied in previous rigorous
work on the short path algorithm, and to show that the algorithm can continue
to lead to speedups for more general objective functions than those considered
before. We find in many cases a polynomial speedup over Grover search. We
present a heuristic analytic treatment of choices of these parameters and of
scaling of phase transitions in this model.
