Towards a geometric characterization of unbounded integer cubic optimization problems via thin rays

We study geometric characterizations of unbounded integer polynomial optimization problems. While unboundedness along a ray fully characterizes unbounded integer linear and quadratic optimization problems, we show that this is not the case for cubic polynomials. To overcome this, we introduce thin rays, which are rays with an arbitrarily small neighborhood, and prove that they characterize … Read more

Projection-width: a unifying structural parameter for separable discrete optimization

We introduce the notion of projection-width for systems of separable constraints, defined via branch decompositions of variables and constraints. We show that several fundamental discrete optimization and counting problems can be solved in polynomial time when the projection-width is polynomially bounded. These include optimization, counting, top-k, and weighted constraint violation. Our results identify a broad … Read more

Branch-and-Cut for Computing Approximate Equilibria of Mixed-Integer Generalized Nash Games

Generalized Nash equilibrium problems with mixed-integer variables constitute an important class of games in which each player solves a mixed-integer optimization problem, where both the objective and the feasible set is parameterized by the rivals’ strategies. However, such games are known for failing to admit exact equilibria and also the assumption of all players being … Read more

Distributionally Robust Optimization with Integer Recourse: Convex Reformulations and Critical Recourse Decisions

The paper studies distributionally robust optimization models with integer recourse. We develop a unified framework that provides finite tight convex relaxations under conic moment-based ambiguity sets and Wasserstein ambiguity sets.  They provide tractable primal representations without relying on sampling or semi-infinite optimization. Beyond tractability, the relaxations offer interpretability that captures the criticality of recourse decisions. … Read more

Improving Directions in Mixed Integer Bilevel Linear Optimization

We consider the central role of improving directions in solution methods for mixed integer bilevel linear optimization problems (MIBLPs). Current state-of-the-art methods for solving MIBLPs employ the branch-and-cut framework originally developed for solving mixed integer linear optimization problems. This approach relies on oracles for two kinds of subproblems: those for checking whether a candidate pair … Read more

On the Convexification of a Class of Mixed-Integer Conic Sets

We investigate mixed-integer second-order conic (SOC) sets with a nonlinear right-hand side in the SOC constraint, a structure frequently arising in mixed-integer quadratically constrained programming (MIQCP). Under mild assumptions, we show that the convex hull can be exactly described by replacing the right-hand side with its concave envelope. This characterization enables strong relaxations for MIQCPs … Read more

Closing the Gap: Efficient Algorithms for Discrete Wasserstein Barycenters

The Wasserstein barycenter problem seeks a probability measure that minimizes the weighted average of the Wasserstein distances to a given collection of probability measures. We study the discrete setting, where each measure has finite support — a regime that frequently arises in machine learning and operations research. The discrete Wasserstein barycenter problem is known to … Read more

GFORS: GPU-Accelerated First-Order Method with Randomized Sampling for Binary Integer Programs

We present GFORS, a GPU-accelerated framework for large binary integer programs. It couples a first-order (PDHG-style) routine that guides the search in the continuous relaxation with a randomized, feasibility-aware sampling module that generates batched binary candidates. Both components are designed to run end-to-end on GPUs with minimal CPU–GPU synchronization. The framework establishes near-stationary-point guarantees for … Read more

Faster Solutions to the Interdiction Defense Problem using Suboptimal Solutions

The interdiction defense (ID) problem solves a defender-attacker-defender model where the defender and attacker share the same set of components to harden and target. We build upon the best response intersection (BRI) algorithm by developing the BRI with suboptimal solutions (BRI-SS) algorithm to solve the ID problem. The BRI-SS algorithm utilizes off-the-shelf optimization solvers that … Read more

Extreme Strong Branching for QCQPs

For mixed-integer programs (MIPs), strong branching is a highly effective variable selection method to reduce the number of nodes in the branch-and-bound algorithm. Extending it to nonlinear problems is conceptually simple but practically limited. Branching on a binary variable fixes the variable to 0 or 1, whereas branching on a continuous variable requires an additional … Read more