An approximation algorithm for multi-objective optimization problems using a box-coverage

For a continuous multi-objective optimization problem, it is usually not a practical approach to compute all its nondominated points because there are infinitely many of them. For this reason, a typical approach is to compute an approximation of the nondominated set. A common technique for this approach is to generate a polyhedron which contains the … Read more

Halting Time is Predictable for Large Models: A Universality Property and Average-case Analysis

Average-case analysis computes the complexity of an algorithm averaged over all possible inputs. Compared to worst-case analysis, it is more representative of the typical behavior of an algorithm, but remains largely unexplored in optimization. One difficulty is that the analysis can depend on the probability distribution of the inputs to the model. However, we show … Read more

Iteration complexity analysis of a partial LQP-based alternating direction method of multipliers

In this paper, we consider a prototypical convex optimization problem with multi-block variables and separable structures. By adding the Logarithmic Quadratic Proximal (LQP) regularizer with suitable proximal parameter to each of the first grouped subproblems, we develop a partial LQP-based Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM-LQP). The dual variable is updated twice with relatively larger … Read more

Spectral relaxations and branching strategies for global optimization of mixed-integer quadratic programs

We consider the global optimization of nonconvex quadratic programs and mixed-integer quadratic programs. We present a family of convex quadratic relaxations which are derived by convexifying nonconvex quadratic functions through perturbations of the quadratic matrix. We investigate the theoretical properties of these quadratic relaxations and show that they are equivalent to some particular semidefinite programs. … Read more

Constrained global optimization of functions with low effective dimensionality using multiple random embeddings

We consider the bound-constrained global optimization of functions with low effective dimensionality, that are constant along an (unknown) linear subspace and only vary over the effective (complement) subspace. We aim to implicitly explore the intrinsic low dimensionality of the constrained landscape using feasible random embeddings, in order to understand and improve the scalability of algorithms … Read more

Global Dynamic Optimization with Hammerstein-Wiener Models Embedded

Hammerstein-Wiener models constitute a significant class of block-structured dynamic models, as they approximate process nonlinearities on the basis of input-output data without requiring identification of a full nonlinear process model. Optimization problems with Hammerstein-Wiener models embedded are nonconvex, and thus local optimization methods may obtain suboptimal solutions. In this work, we develop a deterministic global … Read more

Exact SDP relaxations of quadratically constrained quadratic programs with forest structures

We study the exactness of the semidefinite programming (SDP) relaxation of quadratically constrained quadratic programs (QCQPs). With the aggregate sparsity matrix from the data matrices of a QCQP with $n$ variables, the rank and positive semidefiniteness of the matrix are examined. We prove that if the rank of the aggregate sparsity matrix is not less … Read more

A Modified Simplex Partition Algorithm to Test Copositivity

A real symmetric matrix $A$ is copositive if $x^\top Ax\geq 0$ for all $x\geq 0$. As $A$ is copositive if and only if it is copositive on the standard simplex, algorithms to determine copositivity, such as those in Sponsel et al. (J Glob Optim 52:537–551, 2012) and Tanaka and Yoshise (Pac J Optim 11:101–120, 2015) … Read more

Connecting optimization with spectral analysis of tri-diagonal matrices

We show that the global minimum (resp. maximum) of a continuous func- tion on a compact set can be approximated from above (resp. from below) by computing the smallest (rest. largest) eigenvalue of a hierarchy of (r × r) tri-diagonal matrices of increasing size. Equivalently it reduces to computing the smallest (resp. largest) root of … Read more

Complexity Aspects of Fundamental Questions in Polynomial Optimization

In this thesis, we settle the computational complexity of some fundamental questions in polynomial optimization. These include the questions of (i) finding a local minimum, (ii) testing local minimality of a candidate point, and (iii) deciding attainment of the optimal value. Our results characterize the complexity of these three questions for all degrees of the … Read more