Generating functions and duality for integer programs

We consider the integer program P -> max {c’x | Ax=y; x\in N^n }. Using the generating function of an associated counting problem, and a generalized residue formula of Brion and Vergne, we explicitly relate P with its continuous linear programming (LP) analogue and provide a characterization of its optimal value. In particular, dual variables … Read more

Sums of Squares Relaxations of Polynomial Semidefinite Programs

A polynomial SDP (semidefinite program) minimizes a polynomial objective function over a feasible region described by a positive semidefinite constraint of a symmetric matrix whose components are multivariate polynomials. Sums of squares relaxations developed for polynomial optimization problems are extended to propose sums of squares relaxations for polynomial SDPs with an additional constraint for the … Read more

Complete Search in Continuous Global Optimization and Constraint Satisfaction

This survey covers the state of the art of techniques for solving general purpose constrained global optimization problems and continuous constraint satisfaction problems, with emphasis on complete techniques that provably find all solutions (if there are finitely many). The core of the material is presented in sufficient detail that the survey may serve as a … Read more

Generalized Lagrangian Duals and Sums of Squares Relaxations of Sparse Polynomial Optimization Problems

Sequences of generalized Lagrangian duals and their SOS (sums of squares of polynomials) relaxations for a POP (polynomial optimization problem) are introduced. Sparsity of polynomials in the POP is used to reduce the sizes of the Lagrangian duals and their SOS relaxations. It is proved that the optimal values of the Lagrangian duals in the … Read more

Convex- and Monotone- Transformable Mathematical Programming Problems and a Proximal-Like Point Method

The problem of finding singularities of monotone vectors fields on Hadamard manifolds will be considered and solved by extending the well-known proximal point algorithm. For monotone vector fields the algorithm will generate a well defined sequence, and for monotone vector fields with singularities it will converge to a singularity. It will be also shown how … Read more

D.C. Versus Copositive Bounds for Standard QP

The standard quadratic program (QPS) is $\min_{x\in\Delta} x’Qx$, where $\Delta\subset\Re^n$ is the simplex $\Delta=\{ x\ge 0 : \sum_{i=1}^n x_i=1 \}$. QPS can be used to formulate combinatorial problems such as the maximum stable set problem, and also arises in global optimization algorithms for general quadratic programming when the search space is partitioned using simplices. One … Read more

Global optimization of rational functions: a semidefinite programming approach

We consider the problem of global minimization of rational functions on $\LR^n$ (unconstrained case), and on an open, connected, semi-algebraic subset of $\LR^n$, or the (partial) closure of such a set (constrained case). We show that in the univariate case ($n=1$), these problems have exact reformulations as semidefinite programming (SDP) problems, by using reformulations introduced … Read more

Semidefinite programming vs LP relaxations for polynomial programming

We consider the global minimization of a multivariate polynomial on a semi-algebraic set \Omega defined with polynomial inequalities. We then compare two hierarchies of relaxations, namely, LP-relaxations based on products of the original constraints, in the spirit of the RLT procedure of Sherali and Adams and recent SDP (semi definite programming) relaxations introduced by the … Read more

Products of positive forms, linear matrix inequalities, and Hilbert 17-th problem for ternary forms

A form p on R^n (homogeneous n-variate polynomial) is called positive semidefinite (psd) if it is nonnegative on R^n. In other words, the zero vector is a global minimizer of p in this case. The famous 17th conjecture of Hilbert (later proven by Artin) is that a form p is psd if and only if … Read more