An Axiomatic Duality Framework for the Theta Body and Related Convex Corners

Lovász theta function and the related theta body of graphs have been in the center of the intersection of four research areas: combinatorial optimization, graph theory, information theory, and semidefinite optimization. In this paper, utilizing a modern convex optimization viewpoint, we provide a set of minimal conditions (axioms) under which certain key, desired properties are … Read more

VERTICES OF SPECTRAHEDRA ARISING FROM THE ELLIPTOPE, THE THETA BODY, AND THEIR RELATIVES

Utilizing dual descriptions of the normal cone of convex optimization problems in conic form, we characterize the vertices of semidefinite representations arising from Lovász theta body, generalizations of the elliptope, and related convex sets. Our results generalize vertex characterizations due to Laurent and Poljak from the 1990’s. Our approach also leads us to nice characterizations … Read more

A Semidefinite Approach to the $ Cover Problem

We apply theta body relaxations to the $K_i$ cover problem and use this to show polynomial time solvability for certain classes of graphs. In particular, we give an effective relaxation where all $K_i$-$p$-hole facets are valid, addressing an open question of Conforti et al \cite{conforti}. For the triangle free problem, we show for $K_n$ that … Read more