Nonlinear separation approach to inverse variational inequalities

In this paper, we employ the image space analysis to investigate an inverse variational inequality (for short, IVI) with a cone constraint. By virtue of the nonlinear scalarization function commonly known as the Gerstewitz function, three nonlinear weak separation functions, two nonlinear regular weak separation functions and a nonlinear strong separation function are first introduced. Then, by these nonlinear separation functions, theorems of the weak and strong alternative and some optimality conditions for IVI with a cone constraint are derived without any convexity. In particular, a global saddle-point condition for a nonlinear function is investigated. It is shown that the existence of a saddle point is equivalent to a nonlinear separation of two suitable subsets of the image space. Finally, two gap functions and an error bound for IVI with a cone constraint are obtained.     

Separations and Optimality of Constrained Multiobjective Optimization via Improvement Sets

In this paper, we investigate the separations and optimality conditions for the optimal solution defined by the improvement set of a constrained multiobjective optimization problem. We introduce a vector-valued regular weak separation function and a scalar weak separation function via a nonlinear scalarization function defined in terms of an improvement set. The nonlinear separation between the image of the multiobjective optimization problem and an improvement set in the image space is established by the scalar weak separation function. Saddle point type optimality conditions for the optimal solution of the multiobjective optimization problem are established, respectively, by the nonlinear and linear separation methods. We also obtain the relationships between the optimal solution and approximate efficient solution of the multiobjective optimization problem. Finally, sufficient and necessary conditions for the (regular) linear separation between the approximate image of the multiobjective optimization problem and a convex cone are also presented.     

Optimality Conditions for Generalized Ky Fan Quasi-Inequalities with Applications

In this paper, the image space analysis is employed to study a generalized Ky Fan quasi-inequality with cone constraints. By virtue of a nonlinear scalarization function and a positive linear operator, a nonlinear (regular) weak separation function and a linear regular weak separation function are introduced. Nonlinear and, in particular, linear separations for the generalized Ky Fan quasi-inequality with cone constraints are characterized. Some necessary and sufficient optimality conditions, especially a saddle-point sufficient optimality condition for the generalized Ky Fan quasi-inequality with cone constraints, are obtained. As applications, some sufficient conditions for (weak) vector equilibrium flows of vector traffic equilibrium problems with capacity arc constraints, are derived.     

Nonlinear separation functions,optimality conditions and error bounds for Ky Fan quasi-inequalities

In this paper, we employ the image space analysis to investigate a Ky Fan quasi-inequality with cone constraints. By means of the oriented distance function, a new nonlinear weak (regular) separation function is introduced. Some necessary and sufficient optimality conditions, especially, a saddle-point sufficient optimality condition for the Ky Fan quasi-inequality with cone constraints, are obtained. By virtue of the nonlinear regular weak separation function, a gap function for the Ky Fan quasi-inequality with cone constraints is obtained. Moreover, we get an error bound for the solution set of the Ky Fan quasi-inequality with respect to the gap function under strongly monotone assumptions.     

Nonlinear separation in the image space with applications to constrained optimization

In this paper, by means of the image space analysis, we obtain optimality conditions for vector optimization of objective multifunction with multivalued constraints based on disjunction of two suitable subsets of the image space. By the oriented distance function a nonlinear regular separation is introduced and some optimality conditions for the constrained extremum problem are obtained. It is shown that the existence of a nonlinear separation is equivalent to a saddle point condition for the generalized Lagrangian function.     

Separation Functions and Optimality Conditions in Vector Optimization

In this paper, we propose weak separation functions in the image space for general constrained vector optimization problems on strong and weak vector minimum points. Gerstewitz function is applied to construct a special class of nonlinear separation functions as well as the corresponding generalized Lagrangian functions. By virtue of such nonlinear separation functions, we derive Lagrangian-type sufficient optimality conditions in a general context. Especially for nonconvex problems, we establish Lagrangian-type necessary optimality conditions under suitable restriction conditions, and we further deduce Karush–Kuhn–Tucker necessary conditions in terms of Clarke subdifferentials.     

Image Space Analysis for Constrained Inverse Vector Variational Inequalities via Multiobjective Optimization

In this paper, we employ the image space analysis to study constrained inverse vector variational inequalities. First, sufficient and necessary optimality conditions for constrained inverse vector variational inequalities are established by using multiobjective optimization. A continuous nonlinear function is also introduced based on the oriented distance function and projection operator. This function is proven to be a weak separation function and a regular weak separation function under different parameter sets. Then, two alternative theorems are established, which lead directly to sufficient and necessary optimality conditions of the inverse vector variational inequalities. This provides a partial answer to an open question posed in Chen et al. (J Optim Theory Appl 166:460–479, 2015).     

Separation Approach for Augmented Lagrangians in Constrained Nonconvex Optimization

This paper aims at showing that the class of augmented Lagrangian functions, introduced by Rockafellar and Wets, can be derived, as a particular case, from a nonlinear separation scheme in the image space associated with the given problem; hence, it is part of a more general theory. By means of the image space analysis, local and global saddle-point conditions for the augmented Lagrangian function are investigated. It is shown that the existence of a saddle point is equivalent to a nonlinear separation of two suitable subsets of the image space. Under second-order sufficiency conditions in the image space, it is proved that the augmented Lagrangian admits a local saddle point. The existence of a global saddle point is then obtained under additional assumptions that do not require the compactness of the feasible set.     

Nonlinear separation concerning <Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>-optimal solution of constrained multi-objective optimization problems

This paper aims at investigating optimality conditions in terms of E-optimal solution for constrained multi-objective optimization problems in a general scheme, where E is an improvement set with respect to a nontrivial closed convex point cone with apex at the origin. In the case where E is not convex, nonlinear vector regular weak separation functions and scalar weak separation functions are introduced respectively to realize the separation between the two sets in the image space, and Lagrangian-type optimality conditions are established. These results extend and improve the convex ones in the literature.     

Nonlinear separation approach for the augmented Lagrangian in nonlinear semidefinite programming

This paper aims at showing that the class of augmented Lagrangian functions for nonlinear semidefinite programming problems can be derived, as a particular case, from a nonlinear separation scheme in the image space associated with the given problem. By means of the image space analysis, a global saddle point condition for the augmented Lagrangian function is investigated. It is shown that the existence of a saddle point is equivalent to a regular nonlinear separation of two suitable subsets of the image space. Without requiring the strict complementarity, it is proved that, under second order sufficiency conditions, the augmented Lagrangian function admits a local saddle point. The existence of global saddle points is then obtained under additional assumptions that do not require the compactness of the feasible set. Motivated by the result on global saddle points, we propose two modified primal-dual methods based on the augmented Lagrangian using different strategies and prove their convergence to a global solution and the optimal value of the original problem without requiring the boundedness condition of the multiplier sequence.     

Characterization of duality for a generalized quasi-equilibrium problem

In this paper, the duality theory of a generalized quasi-equilibrium problem (also called generalized Ky Fan quasi-inequality) is investigated by using the image space approach. Generalized quasi-equilibrium problem is transformed into a minimization problem. The minimization problem is further reformulated as an image problem by virtue of linear/nonlinear separation function. The dual problem of the image problem is constructed in the image space, then zero duality gap between the image problem and its dual problem is derived under saddle point condition as well as the equivalent regular linear/nonlinear separation condition. Finally, some more sufficient conditions guaranteeing zero duality gap are also proposed.     

A new approach to constrained optimization via image space analysis

In this article, by introducing a class of nonlinear separation functions, the image space analysis is employed to investigate a class of constrained optimization problems. Furthermore, the equivalence between the existence of nonlinear separation function and a saddle point condition for a generalized Lagrangian function associated with the given problem is proved.     

Optimal Potentials for Problems with Changing Sign Data

The main purpose of this paper is to study the duality and penalty method for a constrained nonconvex vector optimization problem. Following along with the image space analysis, a Lagrange-type duality for a constrained nonconvex vector optimization problem is proposed by virtue of the class of vector-valued regular weak separation functions in the image space. Simultaneously, some equivalent characterizations to the zero duality gap property are established including the Lagrange multiplier, the Lagrange saddle point and the regular separation. Moreover, an exact penalization is also obtained by means of a local image regularity condition and a class of particular regular weak separation functions in the image space.     

Unified Duality Theory for Constrained Extremum Problems. Part I: Image Space Analysis

This paper is concerned with a unified duality theory for a constrained extremum problem. Following along with the image space analysis, a unified duality scheme for a constrained extremum problem is proposed by virtue of the class of regular weak separation functions in the image space. Some equivalent characterizations of the zero duality property are obtained under an appropriate assumption. Moreover, some necessary and sufficient conditions for the zero duality property are also established in terms of the perturbation function. In the accompanying paper, the Lagrange-type duality, Wolfe duality and Mond–Weir duality will be discussed as special duality schemes in a unified interpretation. Simultaneously, three practical classes of regular weak separation functions will be also considered.     

Gap functions for constrained vector variational inequalities with applications

In this paper, the image space analysis is applied to investigate scalar-valued gap functions and their applications for a (parametric)-constrained vector variational inequality. Firstly, using a non-linear regular weak separation function in image space, a gap function of a constrained vector variational inequality is obtained without any assumptions. Then, as an application of the gap function, two error bounds for the constrained vector variational inequality are derived by means of the gap function under some mild assumptions. Further, a parametric gap function of a parametric constrained vector variational inequality is presented. As an application of the parametric gap function, a sufficient condition for the continuity of the solution map of the parametric constrained vector variational inequality is established within the continuity and strict convexity of the parametric gap function. These assumptions do not include any information on the solution set of the parametric constrained vector variational inequality.     

Some Results on Augmented Lagrangians in Constrained Global Optimization via Image Space Analysis

The aim of this paper is to present some results for the augmented Lagrangian function in the context of constrained global optimization by means of the image space analysis. It is first shown that a saddle point condition for the augmented Lagrangian function is equivalent to the existence of a regular nonlinear separation in the image space. Local and global sufficient optimality conditions for the exact augmented Lagrangian function are then investigated by means of second-order analysis in the image space. Local optimality result for this function is established under second-order sufficiency conditions in the image space. Global optimality result is further obtained under additional assumptions. Finally, it is proved that the exact augmented Lagrangian method converges to a global solution–Lagrange multiplier pair of the original problem under mild conditions.     

Characterizations for Optimality Conditions of General Robust Optimization Problems

In this paper, by virtue of the image space analysis, the general scalar robust optimization problems under the strictly robust counterpart are considered, among which, the uncertainties are included in the objective as well as the constraints. Besides, on the strength of a corrected image in a new type, an equivalent relation between the uncertain optimization problem and its image problem is also established, which provides an idea to tackle with minimax problems. Furthermore, theorems of the robust weak alternative as well as sufficient characterizations of robust optimality conditions are achieved on the frame of the linear and nonlinear (regular) weak separation functions. Moreover, several necessary and sufficient optimality conditions, especially saddle point sufficient optimality conditions for scalar robust optimization problems, are obtained. Finally, a simple example for finding a shortest path is included to show the effectiveness of the results derived in this paper.     

Image space analysis for variational inequalities with cone constraints and applications to traffic equilibria

In this paper,the image space analysis (for short,ISA) is employed to investigate variational in- equalities (for short,VI) with cone constraints.Linear separation for VI with cone constraints is characterized by using the normal cone to a regularization of the image,and saddle points of the generalized Lagrangian func- tion.Lagrangian-type necessary and sufficient optimality conditions for VI with cone constraints are presented by using a separation theorem.Gap functions and weak sharpness for VI with cone constraints are also investi- gated.Finally,the obtained results are applied to standard and time-dependent traffic equilibria introduced by Daniele,Maugeri and Oettli.     

Nonlinear separation functions and constrained extremum problems

In this paper, the image space analysis is employed to investigate constrained extremum problems. A new nonlinear separation function for the constrained extremum problems is given. Some optimality conditions and a strong duality theorem for the constrained extremum problem are obtained. These results extend and improve the corresponding ones in the literature.     

Saddle points and gap functions for weak generalized Ky Fan inequalities

In this paper, we employ the image space analysis method to investigate a weak generalized Ky Fan inequality with cone constraints. Some regular weak separation functions are introduced, and generalized Lagrangian functions are constructed by using these regular weak separation functions. Under suitable convexity assumptions and Slater condition, the existence of solution for the weak generalized Ky Fan inequality with cone constraints is equivalent to a saddle point of the generalized Lagrangian functions. Moreover, we also use the regular weak separation functions to construct gap functions for the weak generalized Ky Fan inequality with cone constraints, and obtain its error bound.