Minimization of nonsmooth nonconvex functions using inexact evaluations and its worst-case complexity

An adaptive regularization algorithm using inexact function and derivatives evaluations is proposed for the solution of composite nonsmooth nonconvex optimization. It is shown that this algorithm needs at most O(|log(epsilon)|.epsilon^{-2}) evaluations of the problem’s functions and their derivatives for finding an $\epsilon$-approximate first-order stationary point. This complexity bound therefore generalizes that provided by [Bellavia, Gurioli, … Read more

Weak subgradient algorithm for solving nonsmooth nonconvex unconstrained optimization problems

This paper presents a weak subgradient based method for solving nonconvex unconstrained optimization problems. The method uses a weak subgradient of the objective function at a current point, to generate a new one at every iteration. The concept of the weak subgradient is based on the idea of using supporting cones to the graph of … Read more

An optimal control theory for accelerated optimization

Accelerated optimization algorithms can be generated using a double-integrator model for the search dynamics imbedded in an optimal control problem. CitationunpublishedArticleDownload View PDF

Inexact restoration with subsampled trust-region methods for finite-sum minimization

Convex and nonconvex finite-sum minimization arises in many scientific computing and machine learning applications. Recently, first-order and second-order methods where objective functions, gradients and Hessians are approximated by randomly sampling components of the sum have received great attention. We propose a new trust-region method which employs suitable approximations of the objective function, gradient and Hessian … Read more

Quasi-Newton Methods for Deep Learning: Forget the Past, Just Sample

We present two sampled quasi-Newton methods: sampled LBFGS and sampled LSR1. Contrary to the classical variants of these methods that sequentially build (inverse) Hessian approximations as the optimization progresses, our proposed methods sample points randomly around the current iterate to produce these approximations. As a result, the approximations constructed make use of more reliable (recent … Read more

Analysis of the BFGS Method with Errors

The classical convergence analysis of quasi-Newton methods assumes that the function and gradients employed at each iteration are exact. In this paper, we consider the case when there are (bounded) errors in both computations and establish conditions under which a slight modification of the BFGS algorithm with an Armijo-Wolfe line search converges to a neighborhood … Read more

Local minimizers of semi-algebraic functions

Consider a semi-algebraic function $f\colon\mathbb{R}^n \to {\mathbb{R}},$ which is continuous around a point $\bar{x} \in \mathbb{R}^n.$ Using the so–called {\em tangency variety} of $f$ at $\bar{x},$ we first provide necessary and sufficient conditions for $\bar{x}$ to be a local minimizer of $f,$ and then in the case where $\bar{x}$ is an isolated local minimizer of … Read more

A note on solving nonlinear optimization problems in variable precision

This short note considers an efficient variant of the trust-region algorithm with dynamic accuracy proposed Carter (1993) and Conn, Gould and Toint (2000) as a tool for very high-performance computing, an area where it is critical to allow multi-precision computations for keeping the energy dissipation under control. Numerical experiments are presented indicating that the use … Read more

Adaptive regularization algorithms with inexact evaluations for nonconvex optimization

A regularization algorithm using inexact function values and inexact derivatives is proposed and its evaluation complexity analyzed. This algorithm is applicable to unconstrained problems and to problems with inexpensive constraints (that is constraints whose evaluation and enforcement has negligible cost) under the assumption that the derivative of highest degree is beta-H\”{o}lder continuous. It features a … Read more

On limited-memory quasi-Newton methods for minimizing a quadratic function

The main focus in this paper is exact linesearch methods for minimizing a quadratic function whose Hessian is positive definite. We give two classes of limited-memory quasi-Newton Hessian approximations that generate search directions parallel to those of the method of preconditioned conjugate gradients, and hence give finite termination on quadratic optimization problems. The Hessian approximations … Read more