A comparison of complete global optimization solvers

Results are reported of testing a number of existing state of the art solvers for global constrained optimization and constraint satisfaction on a set of over 1000 test problems in up to 1000 variables. Citation submitted to the special issue on Global Optimization of Math. Programming Article Download View A comparison of complete global optimization … Read more

On the globally convexized filled function method for box constrained continuous global optimization

In this paper we show that the unconstrained continuous global minimization problem can not be solved by any algorithm. So without loss of generality we consider the box constrained continuous global minimization problem. We present a new globally convexized filled function method for the problem. The definition of globally convexized filled function is adapted from … Read more

Semidefinite Approximations for Global Unconstrained Polynomial Optimization

We consider here the problem of minimizing a polynomial function on $\oR^n$. The problem is known to be hard even for degree $4$. Therefore approximation algorithms are of interest. Lasserre \cite{lasserre:2001} and Parrilo \cite{Pa02a} have proposed approximating the minimum of the original problem using a hierarchy of lower bounds obtained via semidefinite programming relaxations. We … Read more

Local Optimization Method with Global Multidimensional

This paper presents a new method for solving global optimization problems. We use a local technique based on the notion of discrete gradients for finding a cone of descent directions and then we use a global cutting angle algorithm for finding global minimum within the intersection of the cone and the feasible region. We present … Read more

A sufficient optimality criteria for linearly constrained, separable concave minimization problems

Sufficient optimality criteria for linearly constrained, concave minimization problems is given in this paper. Our optimality criteria is based on the sensitivity analysis of the relaxed linear programming problem. Our main result is similar to that of Phillips and Rosen (1993), however our proofs are simpler and constructive. Phillips and Rosen (1993) in their paper … Read more

On the Global Minimization of the Value-at-Risk

In this paper, we consider the nonconvex minimization problem of the value-at-risk (VaR) that arises from financial risk analysis. By considering this problem as a special linear program with linear complementarity constraints (a bilevel linear program to be more precise), we develop upper and lower bounds for the minimum VaR and show how the combined … Read more

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

Fuzzy Control of Stochastic Global Optimization Algorithms and Very Fast Simulated Reannealing

This paper presents a fuzzy control approach for improving convergence time in stochastic global minimization algorithms .We show concrete results when the method is applied to an efficient algorithm based on ideas related to Simulated Annealing. Article Download View Fuzzy Control of Stochastic Global Optimization Algorithms and Very Fast Simulated Reannealing

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

Local optima smoothing for global optimization

It is widely believed that in order to solve large scale global optimization problems an appropriate mixture of local approximation and global exploration is necessary. Local approximation, if first order information on the objective function is available, is efficiently performed by means of local optimization methods. Unfortunately, global exploration, in absence of some kind of … Read more