On Affine-Scaling Interior-Point Newton Methods for Nonlinear Minimization with Bound Constraints

A class of new affine-scaling interior-point Newton-type methods are considered for the solution of optimization problems with bound constraints. The methods are shown to be locally quadratically convergent under the strong second order sufficiency condition without assuming strict complementarity of the solution. The new methods differ from previous ones by Coleman and Li [Mathematical Programming, 67 (1994), pp. 189–224] and Heinkenschloss, Ulbrich, and Ulbrich [Mathematical Programming, 86 (1999), pp. 615–635] mainly in the choice of the scaling matrix. The scaling matrices used here have stronger smoothness properties and allow the application of standard results from non smooth analysis in order to obtain a relatively short and elegant local convergence result. An important tool for the definition of the new scaling matrices is the correct identification of the degenerate indices. Some illustrative numerical results with a comparison of the different scaling techniques are also included.     

Q-superlinear convergence of the iterates in primal-dual interior-point methods

Sufficient conditions are given for the Q-superlinear convergence of the iterates produced by primal-dual interior-point methods for linear complementarity problems. It is shown that those conditions are satisfied by several well known interior-point methods. In particular it is shown that the iteration sequences produced by the simplified predictor–corrector method of Gonzaga and Tapia, the simplified largest step method of Gonzaga and Bonnans, the LPF+ algorithm of Wright, the higher order methods of Wright and Zhang, Potra and Sheng, and Stoer, Wechs and Mizuno are Q-superlinearly convergent. Received: February 9, 2000 / Accepted: February 20, 2001?Published online May 3, 2001     

Structure of entropy solutions to the eikonal equation

In this paper, we establish rectifiability of the jump set of an S ¹–valued conservation law in two space–dimensions. This conservation law is a reformulation of the eikonal equation and is motivated by the singular limit of a class of variational problems. The only assumption on the weak solutions is that the entropy productions are (signed) Radon measures, an assumption which is justified by the variational origin. The methods are a combination of Geometric Measure Theory and elementary geometric arguments used to classify blow–ups.?The merit of our approach is that we obtain the structure as if the solutions were in BV, without using the BV–control, which is not available in these variationally motivated problems. Received June 24, 2002 / final version received November 12, 2002?Published online February 7, 2003     

On some interior-point algorithms for nonconvex quadratic optimization

 Recently, interior-point algorithms have been applied to nonlinear and nonconvex optimization. Most of these algorithms are either primal-dual path-following or affine-scaling in nature, and some of them are conjectured to converge to a local minimum. We give several examples to show that this may be untrue and we suggest some strategies for overcoming this difficulty. Received: June 26, 2000 / Accepted: April 2002 Published online: September 5, 2002 Key words. Nonconvex quadratic optimization – local minimum – interior-point algorithms – trust region – branch-and-cut This research is supported by the National Science Foundation Grant CCR-9731273 and DMS-9703490.     

Upper Lipschitz behavior of solutions to perturbed. C1,1 programs

We analyze the local upper Lipschitz behavior of critical points, stationary solutions and local minimizers to parametric C ^1,1 programs. In particular, we derive a characterization of this property for the stationary solution set map without assuming the Mangasarian–Fromovitz CQ. Moreover, conditions which also ensure the persistence of solvability are given, and the special case of linear constraints is handled. The present paper takes pattern from [21] by continuing the approach via contingent derivatives of the Kojima function associated with the given optimization problem. Received: June 10, 1999 / Accepted: November 15, 1999?Published online July 20, 2000     

Logarithmic SUMT limits in convex programming

The limits of a class of primal and dual solution trajectories associated with the Sequential Unconstrained Minimization Technique (SUMT) are investigated for convex programming problems with non-unique optima. Logarithmic barrier terms are assumed. For linear programming problems, such limits – of both primal and dual trajectories – are strongly optimal, strictly complementary, and can be characterized as analytic centers of, loosely speaking, optimality regions. Examples are given, which show that those results do not hold in general for convex programming problems. If the latter are weakly analytic (Bank et al. [3]), primal trajectory limits can be characterized in analogy to the linear programming case and without assuming differentiability. That class of programming problems contains faithfully convex, linear, and convex quadratic programming problems as strict subsets. In the differential case, dual trajectory limits can be characterized similarly, albeit under different conditions, one of which suffices for strict complementarity. Received: November 13, 1997 / Accepted: February 17, 1999?Published online February 22, 2001     

Linear convergence of epsilon-subgradient descent methods for a class of convex functions

This paper establishes a linear convergence rate for a class of epsilon-subgradient descent methods for minimizing certain convex functions on ℝ ⁿ . Currently prominent methods belonging to this class include the resolvent (proximal point) method and the bundle method in proximal form (considered as a sequence of serious steps). Other methods, such as a variant of the proximal point method given by Correa and Lemaréchal, can also fit within this framework, depending on how they are implemented. The convex functions covered by the analysis are those whose conjugates have subdifferentials that are locally upper Lipschitzian at the origin, a property generalizing classical regularity conditions. Received March 29, 1996 / Revised version received March 5, 1999? Published online June 11, 1999     

Dual bounding procedures lead to convergent Branch–and–Bound algorithms

Branch–and–Bound methods with dual bounding procedures have recently been used to solve several continuous global optimization problems. We improve results on their convergence theory and give a condition that enables us to detect infeasible partition sets from the dual optimal value. Received: May 5, 1999 / Accepted: April 19, 2001?Published online September 17, 2001     

Survival and coexistence in stochastic spatial Lotka–Volterra models

A spatially explicit, stochastic Lotka–Volterra model was introduced by Neuhauser and Pacala in Neuhauser and Pacala (Ann. Appl. Probab. 9, 1226–1259, 1999). A low density limit theorem for this process was proved by the authors in Cox and Perkins (Ann. Probab. 33, 904–947, 2005), showing that certain generalized rescaled Lotka–Volterra models converge to super-Brownian motion with drift. Here we use this convergence result to extend what is known about the parameter regions for the Lotka–Volterra process where (i) survival of one type holds, and (ii) coexistence holds. Supported in part by an NSERC Research grant.     

Forcing strong convergence of proximal point iterations in a Hilbert space

This paper concerns with convergence properties of the classical proximal point algorithm for finding zeroes of maximal monotone operators in an infinite-dimensional Hilbert space. It is well known that the proximal point algorithm converges weakly to a solution under very mild assumptions. However, it was shown by Güler [11] that the iterates may fail to converge strongly in the infinite-dimensional case. We propose a new proximal-type algorithm which does converge strongly, provided the problem has a solution. Moreover, our algorithm solves proximal point subproblems inexactly, with a constructive stopping criterion introduced in [31]. Strong convergence is forced by combining proximal point iterations with simple projection steps onto intersection of two halfspaces containing the solution set. Additional cost of this extra projection step is essentially negligible since it amounts, at most, to solving a linear system of two equations in two unknowns. Received January 6, 1998 / Revised version received August 9, 1999?Published online November 30, 1999     

Grasping the phantom – a new approach to nonlinear spectral theory

A new definition of a spectrum for nonlinear operators is suggested, which is called phantom. The phantom naturally divides into two subsets which in the linear case correspond to the point spectrum, and to the union of the continuous and residual spectrum. There is also a natural nonlinear analogue to the approximate point spectrum. The phantom may be considered as a variant of the spectrum of M. Furi, M. Martelli, and A. Vignoli (Ann. Mat. Pura Appl. 118 (1978), 229–294), which reflects the behavior of the operator on bounded sets and which is based on a new definition of an eigenvalue that was suggested earlier by the authors (Nonlinear Anal. 40 (2000), 565–576).?To define the phantom, the class of stably 0-epi maps is introduced and studied. This is a subclass of 0-epi maps satisfying a Rouché type theorem. Received: November 15, 1999?Published online: October 2, 2001     

Sensitivity analysis in linear programming and semidefinite programming using interior-point methods

We analyze perturbations of the right-hand side and the cost parameters in linear programming (LP) and semidefinite programming (SDP). We obtain tight bounds on the perturbations that allow interior-point methods to recover feasible and near-optimal solutions in a single interior-point iteration. For the unique, nondegenerate solution case in LP, we show that the bounds obtained using interior-point methods compare nicely with the bounds arising from using the optimal basis. We also present explicit bounds for SDP using the Monteiro-Zhang family of search directions and specialize them to the AHO, H..K..M, and NT directions. Received: December 1999 / Accepted: January 2001?Published online March 22, 2001     

A faster capacity scaling algorithm for minimum cost submodular flow

We describe an O(n ⁴ hmin{logU,n ²logn}) capacity scaling algorithm for the minimum cost submodular flow problem. Our algorithm modifies and extends the Edmonds–Karp capacity scaling algorithm for minimum cost flow to solve the minimum cost submodular flow problem. The modification entails scaling a relaxation parameter δ. Capacities are relaxed by attaching a complete directed graph with uniform arc capacity δ in each scaling phase. We then modify a feasible submodular flow by relaxing the submodular constraints, so that complementary slackness is satisfied. This creates discrepancies between the boundary of the flow and the base polyhedron of a relaxed submodular function. To reduce these discrepancies, we use a variant of the successive shortest path algorithm that augments flow along minimum cost paths of residual capacity at least δ. The shortest augmenting path subroutine we use is a variant of Dijkstra’s algorithm modified to handle exchange capacity arcs efficiently. The result is a weakly polynomial time algorithm whose running time is better than any existing submodular flow algorithm when U is small and C is big. We also show how to use maximum mean cuts to make the algorithm strongly polynomial. The resulting algorithm is the first capacity scaling algorithm to match the current best strongly polynomial bound for submodular flow. Received: August 6, 1999 / Accepted: July 2001?Published online October 2, 2001     

Superlinear convergence of affine scaling interior point newton method for linear inequality constrained minimization without strict complementarity

In this paper we extend and improve the classical affine scaling interior-point Newton method for solving nonlinear optimization subject to linear inequality constraints in the absence of the strict complementarity assumption. Introducing a computationally efficient technique and employing an identification function for the definition of the new affine scaling matrix, we propose and analyze a new affine scaling interior-point Newton method which improves the Coleman and Li affine sealing matrix in [2] for solving the linear inequlity constrained optimization. Local superlinear and quadratical convergence of the proposed algorithm is established under the strong second order sufficiency condition without assuming strict complementarity of the solution.     

A trust region and affine scaling interior point method for nonconvex minimization with linear inequality constraints

A trust region and affine scaling interior point method (TRAM) is proposed for a general nonlinear minimization with linear inequality constraints [8]. In the proposed approach, a Newton step is derived from the complementarity conditions. Based on this Newton step, a trust region subproblem is formed, and the original objective function is monotonically decreased. Explicit sufficient decrease conditions are proposed for satisfying the first order and second order necessary conditions.?The objective of this paper is to establish global and local convergence properties of the proposed trust region and affine scaling interior point method. It is shown that the proposed explicit decrease conditions are sufficient for satisfy complementarity, dual feasibility and second order necessary conditions respectively. It is also established that a trust region solution is asymptotically in the interior of the proposed trust region subproblem and a properly damped trust region step can achieve quadratic convergence. Received: January 29, 1999 / Accepted: November 22, 1999?Published online February 23, 2000     

Generalization of Primal—Dual Interior-Point Methods to Convex Optimization Problems in Conic Form

We generalize primal—dual interior-point methods for linear programming (LP) problems to the convex optimization problems in conic form. Previously, the most comprehensive theory of symmetric primal—dual interior-point algorithms was given by Nesterov and Todd for feasible regions expressed as the intersection of a symmetric cone with an affine subspace. In our setting, we allow an arbitrary convex cone in place of the symmetric cone. Even though some of the impressive properties attained by Nesterov—Todd algorithms are impossible in this general setting of convex optimization problems, we show that essentially all primal—dual interior-point algorithms for LP can be extended easily to the general setting. We provide three frameworks for primal—dual algorithms, each framework corresponding to a different level of sophistication in the algorithms. As the level of sophistication increases, we demand better formulations of the feasible solution sets. Our algorithms, in return, attain provably better theoretical properties. We also make a very strong connection to quasi-Newton methods by expressing the square of the symmetric primal—dual linear transformation (the so-called scaling) as a quasi-Newton update in the case of the least sophisticated framework. August 25, 1999. Final version received: March 7, 2001.     

Approximating the complexity measure of Vavasis-Ye algorithm is NP-hard

Given an m×n integer matrix A of full row rank, we consider the problem of computing the maximum of ∥B ^-1 A∥₂ where B varies over all bases of A. This quantity appears in various places in the mathematical programming literature. More recently, logarithm of this number was the determining factor in the complexity bound of Vavasis and Ye’s primal-dual interior-point algorithm. We prove that the problem of approximating this maximum norm, even within an exponential (in the dimension of A) factor, is NP-hard. Our proof is based on a closely related result of L. Khachiyan [1]. Received November 13, 1998 / Revised version received January 20, 1999? Published online May 12, 1999     

The stable admissions polytope

The stable admissions polytope– the convex hull of the stable assignments of the university admissions problem – is described by a set of linear inequalities. It depends on a new characterization of stability and arguments that exploit and extend a graphical approach that has been fruitful in the analysis of the stable marriage problem. Received: April 10, 1998 / Accepted: June 3, 1999?Published online January 27, 2000     

A polynomial time interior–point path–following algorithm for LCP based on Chen–Harker–Kanzow smoothing techniques

$$O\sqrt{n}L$$ ); otherwise, the complexity bound is O(nL). The relations between our search direction and the one used in the standard interior-point algorithm are also discussed. Received September 9, 1996 / Revised version received December 22, 1997? Published online March 16, 1999     

Global convergence of a class of non-interior point algorithms using Chen-Harker-Kanzow-Smale functions for nonlinear complementarity problems

We propose a class of non-interior point algorithms for solving the complementarity problems(CP): Find a nonnegative pair (x,y)∈ℝ ²ⁿ satisfying y=f(x) and x _i y _i =0 for every i∈{1,2,...,n}, where f is a continuous mapping from ℝ ⁿ to ℝ ⁿ . The algorithms are based on the Chen-Harker-Kanzow-Smale smoothing functions for the CP, and have the following features; (a) it traces a trajectory in ℝ ³ⁿ which consists of solutions of a family of systems of equations with a parameter, (b) it can be started from an arbitrary (not necessarily positive) point in ℝ ²ⁿ in contrast to most of interior-point methods, and (c) its global convergence is ensured for a class of problems including (not strongly) monotone complementarity problems having a feasible interior point. To construct the algorithms, we give a homotopy and show the existence of a trajectory leading to a solution under a relatively mild condition, and propose a class of algorithms involving suitable neighborhoods of the trajectory. We also give a sufficient condition on the neighborhoods for global convergence and two examples satisfying it. Received April 9, 1997 / Revised version received September 2, 1998? Published online May 28, 1999