Normally admissible stratifications and calculation of normal cones to a finite union of polyhedral sets

This paper considers computation of Fr\’echet and limiting normal cones to a finite union of polyhedra. To this aim, we introduce a new concept of normally admissible stratification which is convenient for calculations of such cones and provide its basic properties. We further derive formulas for the above mentioned cones and compare our approach to … Read more

Matrix monotonicity and self-concordance:how to handle quantum entropy in optimization problems

Let $g$ be a continuously differentiable function whose derivative is matrix monotone on positive semi-axis. Such a function induces a function $\phi (x)=tr(g(x))$ on the cone of squares of an arbitrary Euclidean Jordan algebra. We show that $\phi (x) -\ln \det(x)$ is a self-concordant function on the interior of the cone. We also show that … Read more

On a new class of matrix support functionals with applications

A new class of matrix support functionals is presented which establish a connection between optimal value functions for quadratic optimization problems, the matrix-fractional function, the pseudo matrix-fractional function, and the nuclear norm. The support function is based on the graph of the product of a matrix with its transpose. Closed form expressions for the support … Read more

How the augmented Lagrangian algorithm can deal with an infeasible convex quadratic optimization problem

This paper analyses the behavior of the augmented Lagrangian algorithm when it deals with an infeasible convex quadratic optimization problem. It is shown that the algorithm finds a point that, on the one hand, satisfies the constraints shifted by the smallest possible shift that makes them feasible and, on the other hand, minimizes the objective … Read more

Convergence analysis of sampling-based decomposition methods for risk-averse multistage stochastic convex programs

We consider a class of sampling-based decomposition methods to solve risk-averse multistage stochastic convex programs. We prove a formula for the computation of the cuts necessary to build the outer linearizations of the recourse functions. This formula can be used to obtain an efficient implementation of Stochastic Dual Dynamic Programming applied to convex nonlinear problems. … Read more

On the Sublinear Convergence Rate of Multi-Block ADMM

The alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) is widely used in solving structured convex optimization problems. Despite of its success in practice, the convergence of the standard ADMM for minimizing the sum of $N$ $(N\geq 3)$ convex functions whose variables are linked by linear constraints, has remained unclear for a very long time. Recently, Chen … Read more

On the Global Linear Convergence of the ADMM with Multi-Block Variables

The alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) has been widely used for solving structured convex optimization problems. In particular, the ADMM can solve convex programs that minimize the sum of $N$ convex functions with $N$-block variables linked by some linear constraints. While the convergence of the ADMM for $N=2$ was well established in the literature, … Read more

Differential properties of Euclidean projection onto power cone

In this paper, we study differential properties of Euclidean projection onto the power cone $K^{(p,q)}_n=\{(x,y,z)\in \mathbb{R}_+\times \mathbb{R}_+\times \mathbb{R}^n,\norm{z} \leq x^p y^q\}$, where $0< p,q < 1, p+q=1$. Projections onto certain power cones are examples of semismooth but non-strongly-semismooth projection onto a convex cone. CitationDivision of Mathematical Sciences, School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological ... Read more

Convergence rate analysis of primal-dual splitting schemes

Primal-dual splitting schemes are a class of powerful algorithms that solve complicated monotone inclusions and convex optimization problems that are built from many simpler pieces. They decompose problems that are built from sums, linear compositions, and infimal convolutions of simple functions so that each simple term is processed individually via proximal mappings, gradient mappings, and … Read more

Fast Projection onto the Simplex and the l1 Ball

A new algorithm is proposed to project, exactly and in finite time, a vector of arbitrary size onto a simplex or a l1-norm ball. The algorithm is demonstrated to be faster than existing methods. In addition, a wrong statement in a paper by Duchi et al. is corrected and an adversary sequence for Michelot’s algorithm … Read more