Binary Optimal Control by Trust-Region Steepest Descent

We present a trust-region steepest descent method for dynamic optimal control problems with binary-valued integrable control functions. Our method interprets the control function as an indicator function of a measurable set and makes set-valued adjustments derived from the sublevel sets of a topological gradient function. By combining this type of update with a trust-region framework, … Read more

Weakly Homogeneous Optimization Problems

This paper investigates a new class of optimization problems whose objective functions are weakly homogeneous relative to the constrain sets. Two sufficient conditions for nonemptiness and boundedness of solution sets are established. We also study linear parametric problems and upper semincontinuity of the solution map. ArticleDownload View PDF

Dimension in Polynomial Variational Inequalities

The aim of the paper is twofold. Firstly, by using the constant rank level set theorem from differential geometry, we establish sharp upper bounds for the dimensions of the solution sets of polynomial variational inequalities under mild conditions. Secondly, a classification of polynomial variational inequalities based on dimensions of their solution sets is introduced and … Read more

Gamma-Robust Electricity Market Equilibrium Models with Transmission and Generation Investments

We consider uncertain robust electricity market equilibrium problems including transmission and generation investments. Electricity market equilibrium modeling has a long tradition but is, in most of the cases, applied in a deterministic setting in which all data of the model are known. Whereas there exist some literature on stochastic equilibrium problems, the field of robust … Read more

Equilibrium selection for multi-portfolio optimization

This paper studies a Nash game arising in portfolio optimization. We introduce a new general multi-portfolio model and state sufficient conditions for the monotonicity of the underlying Nash game. This property allows us to treat the problem numerically and, for the case of nonunique equilibria, to solve hierarchical problems of equilibrium selection. We also give … Read more

On Modeling Local Search with Special-Purpose Combinatorial Optimization Hardware

As we approach the physical limits predicted by Moore’s law, a variety of specialized hardware is emerging to tackle specialized tasks in different domains. Within combinatorial optimization, adiabatic quantum computers, CMOS annealers, and optical parametric oscillators are few of the emerging specialized hardware technology aimed at solving optimization problems. In terms of mathematical framework, the … Read more

The maximum hBccolorable subgraph problem and related problems

The maximum $k$-colorable subgraph (M$k$CS) problem is to find an induced $k$-colorable subgraph with maximum cardinality in a given graph. This paper is an in-depth analysis of the M$k$CS problem that considers various semidefinite programming relaxations including their theoretical and numerical comparisons. To simplify these relaxations we exploit the symmetry arising from permuting the colors, … Read more

Optimal Control with Distorted Probability Distributions

We study a robust optimal control of discrete time Markov chains with finite terminal T and bounded costs using probability distortion. The time inconsistency of these operators and hence its lack of dynamic programming are discussed. Due to that, dynamic versions of these operators are introduced and its availability for dynamic programming are demonstrated. Based … Read more

Imposing contiguity constraints in political districting models

Beginning in the 1960s, techniques from operations research began to be used to generate political districting plans. A classical example is the integer programming model of Hess et al. (Operations Research 13(6):998–1006, 1965). Due to the model’s compactness-seeking objective, it tends to generate contiguous or nearly-contiguous districts, although none of the model’s constraints explicitly impose … Read more

A new discrete filled function with generic local searches for global nonlinear integer optimization

The problem of finding global minima of nonlinear discrete functions arises in many fields of practical matters. In recent years, methods based on discrete filled functions become popular as ways of solving these sort of problems. However, they rely on the steepest descent method for local searches. Here we present an approach that does not … Read more