First-order Methods of Smooth Convex Optimization with Inexact Oracle

We introduce the notion of inexact first-order oracle and analyze the behaviour of several first-order methods of smooth convex optimization used with such an oracle. This notion of inexact oracle naturally appears in the context of smoothing techniques, Moreau-Yosida regularization, Augmented Lagrangians and many other situations. We derive complexity estimates for primal, dual and fast … Read more

Solving Infinite-dimensional Optimization Problems by Polynomial Approximation

We solve a class of convex infinite-dimensional optimization problems using a numerical approximation method that does not rely on discretization. Instead, we restrict the decision variable to a sequence of finite-dimensional linear subspaces of the original infinite-dimensional space and solve the corresponding finite-dimensional problems in a efficient way using structured convex optimization techniques. We prove … Read more

Double smoothing technique for infinite-dimensional optimization problems with applications to Optimal Control.

In this paper, we propose an efficient technique for solving some infinite-dimensional problems over the sets of functions of time. In our problem, besides the convex point-wise constraints on state variables, we have convex coupling constraints with finite-dimensional image. Hence, we can formulate a finite-dimensional dual problem, which can be solved by efficient gradient methods. … Read more

A conic formulation for hBcnorm optimization

In this paper, we formulate the $l_p$-norm optimization problem as a conic optimization problem, derive its standard duality properties and show it can be solved in polynomial time. We first define an ad hoc closed convex cone, study its properties and derive its dual. This allows us to express the standard $l_p$-norm optimization primal problem … Read more

Improving complexity of structured convex optimization problems using self-concordant barriers

The purpose of this paper is to provide improved complexity results for several classes of structured convex optimization problems using to the theory of self-concordant functions developed in [2]. We describe the classical short-step interior-point method and optimize its parameters in order to provide the best possible iteration bound. We also discuss the necessity of … Read more

Proving strong duality for geometric optimization using a conic formulation

Geometric optimization is an important class of problems that has many applications, especially in engineering design. In this article, we provide new simplified proofs for the well-known associated duality theory, using conic optimization. After introducing suitable convex cones and studying their properties, we model geometric optimization problems with a conic formulation, which allows us to … Read more