Think co(mpletely )positive ! Matrix properties, examples and a clustered bibliography on copositive optimization

Copositive optimization is a quickly expanding scientific research domain with wide-spread applications ranging from global nonconvex problems in engineering to NP-hard combinatorial optimization. It falls into the category of conic programming (optimizing a linear functional over a convex cone subject to linear constraints), namely the cone of all completely positive symmetric nxn matrices, and its … Read more

Copositivity and constrained fractional quadratic problems

We provide Completely Positive and Copositive Programming formulations for the Constrained Fractional Quadratic Problem (CFQP) and Standard Fractional Quadratic Problem (StFQP). Based on these formulations, Semidefinite Programming (SDP) relaxations are derived for finding good lower bounds to these fractional programs, which are used in a global optimization branch-and-bound approach. Applications of the CFQP and StFQP, … Read more

Fast population game dynamics for dominant sets and other quadratic optimization problems

We propose a fast population game dynamics, motivated by the analogy with infection and immunization processes within a population of “players,” for finding dominant sets, a powerful graph-theoretical notion of a cluster. Each step of the proposed dynamics is shown to have a linear time/space complexity and we show that, under the assumption of symmetric … Read more

Copositivity detection by difference-of-convex decomposition and omega-subdivision

We present three new copositivity tests based upon difference-of-convex (d.c.) decompositions, and combine them to a branch-and-bound algorithm of $\omega$-subdivision type. The tests employ LP or convex QP techniques, but also can be used heuristically using appropriate test points. We also discuss the selection of efficient d.c.~decompositions and propose some preprocessing ideas based on the … Read more

Quadratic factorization heuristics for copositive programming

Copositive optimization problems are particular conic programs: extremize linear forms over the copositive cone subject to linear constraints. Every quadratic program with linear constraints can be formulated as a copositive program, even if some of the variables are binary. So this is an NP-hard problem class. While most methods try to approximate the copositive cone … Read more

Building a completely positive factorization

Using a bordering approach, and building upon an already known factorization of a principal block, we establish sufficient conditions under which we can extend this factorization to the full matrix. Simulations show that the approach is promising also in higher dimensions. Citation Preprint, Univ.of Vienna (2017), submitted Article Download View Building a completely positive factorization

A note on Burer’s copositive representation of mixed-binary QPs

In an important paper, Burer recently showed how to reformulate general mixed-binary quadratic optimization problems (QPs) into copositive programs where a linear functional is minimized over a linearly constrained subset of the cone of completely positive matrices. In this note we interpret the implication from a topological point of view, showing that the Minkowski sum … Read more

Standard Bi-Quadratic Optimization Problems and Unconstrained Polynomial Reformulations

A so-called Standard Bi-Quadratic Optimization Problem (StBQP) consists in minimizing a bi-quadratic form over the Cartesian product of two simplices (so this is different from a Bi-Standard QP where a quadratic function is minimized over the same set). An application example arises in portfolio selection. In this paper we present a bi-quartic formulation of StBQP, … Read more

Necessary conditions for local optimality in d.c. programming

Using $\eps$-subdifferential calculus for difference-of-convex (d.c.) programming, D\”ur proposed a condition sufficient for local optimality, and showed that this condition is not necessary in general. Here it is proved that whenever the convex part is strongly convex, this condition is also necessary. Strong convexity can always be ensured by changing the given d.c. decomposition slightly. … Read more

Multi-Standard Quadratic Optimization Problems

A Standard Quadratic Optimization Problem (StQP) consists of maximizing a (possibly indefinite) quadratic form over the standard simplex. Likewise, in a multi-StQP we have to maximize a (possibly indefinite) quadratic form over the cartesian product of several standard simplices (of possibly different dimensions). Two converging monotone interior point methods are established. Further, we prove an … Read more