Multivariate exponential integral approximations: a moment approach

We propose a method to approximate a class of exponential multivariate integrals using moment relaxations. Using this approach, both lower and upper bounds of the integrals are obtained and we show that these bound values asymptotically converge to the real value of the integrals when the moment degree r increases. We further demonstrate the method … Read more

Optimal data fitting: a moment approach

We propose a moment relaxation for two problems, the separation and covering problem with semi-algebraic sets generated by a polynomial of degree d. We show that (a) the optimal value of the relaxation finitely converges to the optimal value of the original problem, when the moment order r increases and (b) there exist probability measures … Read more

Experiments in Robust Portfolio Optimization

We present experimental results on portfolio optimization problems with return errors under the robust optimization framework. We use several a histogram-like model for return deviations, and a model that allows correlation among errors, together with a cutting-plane algorithm which proves effective for large, real-life data sets. Citation Columbia Center for Financial Engineering Report 2007-01 Columbia … Read more

Data Assimilation in Weather Forecasting: A Case Study in PDE-Constrained Optimization

Variational data assimilation is used at major weather prediction centers to produce the initial conditions for 7- to 10-day weather forecasts. This technique requires the solution of a very large data-fitting problem in which the major element is a set of partial differential equations that models the evolution of the atmosphere over a time window … Read more

Multi-objective branch-and-bound. Application to the bi-objective spanning tree problem.

This paper focuses on a multi-objective derivation of branch-and-bound procedures. Such a procedure aims to provide the set of Pareto optimal solutions of a multi-objective combinatorial optimization problem. Unlike previous works on this issue, the bounding is performed here via a set of points rather than a single ideal point. The main idea is that … Read more

Simple Explicit Formula for Counting Lattice Points of Polyhedra

Given $z\in C^n$ and $A\in Z^{m\times n}$, we consider the problem of evaluating the counting function $h(y;z):=\sum\{z^x : x \in Z^n; Ax = y, x \geq 0\}$. We provide an explicit expression for $h(y;z)$ as well as an algorithm with possibly numerous but simple computations. In addition, we exhibit finitely many fixed convex cones of … Read more

Measures with zeros in the inverse of their moment matrix

We investigate and discuss when the inverse of a multivariate truncated moment matrix of a measure has zeros in some prescribed entries. We describe precisely which pattern of these zeroes corresponds to independence, namely, the measure having a product structure. A more refined finding is that the key factor forcing a zero entry in this … Read more

Sufficient Conditions for a Real Polynomial to be a Sum of Squares

We provide explicit sufficient conditions for a polynomial $f$ to be a sum of squares (s.o.s.), linear in the coefficients of $f$. All conditions are simple and provide an explicit description of a convex polyhedral subcone of the cone of s.o.s. polynomials of degree at most $2d$. We also provide a simple condition to ensure … Read more

An Exact Solution Approach for Portfolio Optimization Problems under Stochastic and Integer Constraints

In this paper, we study extensions of the classical Markowitz mean-variance portfolio optimization model. First, we consider that the expected asset returns are stochastic by introducing a probabilistic constraint which imposes that the expected return of the constructed portfolio must exceed a prescribed return threshold with a high confidence level. We study the deterministic equivalents … Read more

Computable representations for convex hulls of low-dimensional quadratic forms

Let C be the convex hull of points {(1;x)(1,x’)| x \in F\subset R^n}. Representing or approximating C is a fundamental problem for global optimization algorithms based on convex relaxations of products of variables. If n