Sparse and Smooth Signal Estimation: Convexification of L0 Formulations

Signal estimation problems with smoothness and sparsity priors can be naturally modeled as quadratic optimization with L0-“norm” constraints. Since such problems are non-convex and hard-to-solve, the standard approach is, instead, to tackle their convex surrogates based on L1-norm relaxations. In this paper, we propose new iterative conic quadratic relaxations that exploit not only the L0-“norm” … Read more

Strong formulations for quadratic optimization with M-matrices and semi-continuous variables

We study quadratic optimization with semi-continuous variables and an M-matrix, i.e., PSD with non-positive off-diagonal entries. This structure arises in image segmentation, portfolio optimization, as well as a substructure of general quadratic optimization problems. We prove, under mild assumptions, that the minimization problem is solvable in polynomial time by showing its equivalence to a submodular … Read more

Simplex QP-based methods for minimizing a conic quadratic objective over polyhedra

We consider minimizing a conic quadratic objective over a polyhedron. Such problems arise in parametric value-at-risk minimization, portfolio optimization, and robust optimization with ellipsoidal objective uncertainty; and they can be solved by polynomial interior point algorithms for conic quadratic optimization. However, interior point algorithms are not well-suited for branch-and-bound algorithms for the discrete counterparts of … Read more

Lifted Polymatroid Inequalities for Mean-Risk Optimization with Indicator Variables

We investigate a mixed 0-1 conic quadratic optimization problem with indicator variables arising in mean-risk optimization. The indicator variables are often used to model non-convexities such as fixed charges or cardinality constraints. Observing that the problem reduces to a submodular function minimization for its binary restriction, we derive three classes of strong convex valid inequalities … Read more

Path Cover and Path Pack Inequalities for the Capacitated Fixed-Charge Network Flow Problem

Capacitated fixed-charge network flows are used to model a variety of problems in telecommunication, facility location, production planning and supply chain management. In this paper, we investigate capacitated path substructures and derive strong and easy-to-compute path cover and path pack inequalities. These inequalities are based on an explicit characterization of the submodular inequalities through a … Read more

A Spatial Branch-and-Cut Method for Nonconvex QCQP with Bounded Complex Variables

We develop a spatial branch-and-cut approach for nonconvex Quadratically Constrained Quadratic Programs with bounded complex variables (CQCQP). Linear valid inequalities are added at each node of the search tree to strengthen semidefinite programming relaxations of CQCQP. These valid inequalities are derived from the convex hull description of a nonconvex set of $2 \times 2$ positive … Read more

Maximizing a class of utility functions over the vertices of a polytope

Given a polytope X, a monotone concave univariate function g, and two vectors c and d, we study the discrete optimization problem of finding a vertex of X that maximizes the utility function c’x + g(d’x). This problem has numerous applications in combinatorial optimization with a probabilistic objective, including estimation of project duration with stochastic … Read more

n-step Mingling Inequalities: New Facets for the Mixed-Integer Knapsack Set

The n-step mixed integer rounding (MIR) inequalities of Kianfar and Fathi are valid inequalities for the mixed-integer knapsack set that are derived by using periodic n-step MIR functions and define facets for group problems. The mingling and 2-step mingling inequalities of Atamturk and Gunluk are also derived based on MIR and they incorporate upper bounds … Read more

The Submodular Knapsack Polytope

The submodular knapsack set is the discrete lower level set of a submodular function. The modular case reduces to the classical linear 0-1 knapsack set. One motivation for studying the submodular knapsack polytope is to address 0-1 programming problems with uncertain coefficients. Under various assumptions, a probabilistic constraint on 0-1 variables can be modeled as … Read more

Maximizing a Class of Submodular Utility Functions

Given a finite ground set N and a value vector a in R^N, we consider optimization problems involving maximization of a submodular set utility function of the form h(S)= f (sum_{i in S} a_i), S subseteq N, where f is a strictly concave, increasing, differentiable function. This function appears frequently in combinatorial optimization problems when … Read more