A multilevel algorithm for solving the trust-region subproblem

We present a multilevel numerical algorithm for the exact solution of the Euclidean trust-region subproblem. This particular subproblem typically arises when optimizing a nonlinear (possibly non-convex) objective function whose variables are discretized continuous functions, in which case the different levels of discretization provide a natural multilevel context. The trust-region problem is considered at the highest … Read more

Processor Speed Control with Thermal Constraints

We consider the problem of adjusting speeds of multiple computer processors sharing the same thermal environment, such as a chip or multi-chip package. We assume that the speed of processor (and associated variables, such as power supply voltage) can be controlled, and we model the dissipated power of a processor as a positive and strictly … Read more

Robust Nonconvex Optimization for Simulation-based Problems

In engineering design, an optimized solution often turns out to be suboptimal, when implementation errors are encountered. While the theory of robust convex optimization has taken significant strides over the past decade, all approaches fail if the underlying cost function is not explicitly given; it is even worse if the cost function is nonconvex. In … 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

Second-order convergence properties of trust-region methods using incomplete curvature information, with an application to multigrid optimization

Convergence properties of trust-region methods for unconstrained nonconvex optimization is considered in the case where information on the objective function’s local curvature is incomplete, in the sense that it may be restricted to a fixed set of “test directions” and may not be available at every iteration. It is shown that convergence to local “weak” … Read more

Pricing a class of exotic options via moments and SDP relaxations

We present a new methodology for the numerical pricing of a class of exotic derivatives such as Asian or barrier options when the underlying asset price dynamics are modelled by a geometric Brownian motion or a number of mean-reverting processes of interest. This methodology identifies derivative prices with infinite-dimensional linear programming problems involving the moments … Read more

Optimization of discrete control systems with varying structure

In this paper a special step control problem is considered. The formulation of the problem uses a parameter to control the switching point. By using Taylor’s increment methods first and second order optimality conditions (in the sense of Pontryagin’s maximum principle) will be derived. Citation Preprint 2005-1, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University … Read more

Optimal Nodal Control of Networked Hyperbolic Systems: Evaluation of Derivatives

We consider a networked system defined on a graph where each edge corresponds to a quasilinear hyperbolic system with space dimension one. At the nodes, the system is governed by algebraic node conditions. The system is controlled at the nodes of the graph. Optimal control problems for systems of this type arise in the operation … Read more

Performance of CONDOR, a Parallel, Constrained extension of Powell’s UOBYQA algorithm. Experimental results and comparison with the DFO algorithm.

This paper presents an algorithmic extension of Powell’s UOBYQA algorithm (”Unconstrained Optimization BY Quadratical Approximation”). We start by summarizing the original algorithm of Powell and by presenting it in a more comprehensible form. Thereafter, we report comparative numerical results between UOBYQA, DFO and a parallel, constrained extension of UOBYQA that will be called in the … Read more

Recursive Trust-Region Methods for Multilevel Nonlinear Optimization (Part I): Global Convergence and Complexity

A class of trust-region methods is presented for solving unconstrained nonlinear and possibly nonconvex discretized optimization problems, like those arising in systems governed by partial differential equations. The algorithms in this class make use of the discretization level as a mean of speeding up the computation of the step. This use is recursive, leading to … Read more