Newton-Like Dynamics and Forward-Backward Methods for Structured Monotone Inclusions in Hilbert Spaces

In a Hilbert space setting we introduce dynamical systems, which are linked to Newton and Levenberg–Marquardt methods. They are intended to solve, by splitting methods, inclusions governed by structured monotone operators M=A+B, where A is a general maximal monotone operator, and B is monotone and locally Lipschitz continuous. Based on the Minty representation of A as a Lipschitz manifold, we show that these dynamics can be formulated as differential systems, which are relevant to the Cauchy–Lipschitz theorem, and involve separately B and the resolvents of A. In the convex subdifferential case, by using Lyapunov asymptotic analysis, we prove a descent minimizing property and weak convergence to equilibria of the trajectories. Time discretization of these dynamics gives algorithms combining Newton’s method and forward-backward methods for solving structured monotone inclusions.     

Minimal convex functions bounded below by the duality product

It is well known that the Fitzpatrick function of a maximal monotone operator is minimal in the class of convex functions bounded below by the duality product. Our main result establishes that, in the setting of reflexive Banach spaces, the converse also holds; that is, every such minimal function is the Fitzpatrick function of some maximal monotone operator. Whether this converse also holds in a nonreflexive Banach space remains an open problem.

     

Global Convergence of a Closed-Loop Regularized Newton Method for Solving Monotone Inclusions in Hilbert Spaces

We analyze the global convergence properties of some variants of regularized continuous Newton methods for convex optimization and monotone inclusions in Hilbert spaces. The regularization term is of Levenberg–Marquardt type and acts in an open-loop or closed-loop form. In the open-loop case the regularization term may be of bounded variation.     

A Markovian Growth Dynamics on Rooted Binary Trees Evolving According to the Gompertz Curve

Inspired by biological dynamics, we consider a growth Markov process taking values on the space of rooted binary trees, similar to the Aldous-Shields (Probab. Theory Relat. Fields 79(4):509?C542, 1988) model. Fix n??1 and ??>0. We start at time 0 with the tree composed of a root only. At any time, each node with no descendants, independently from the other nodes, produces two successors at rate ??(n?k)/n, where k is the distance from the node to the root. Denote by Z _n (t) the number of nodes with no descendants at time t and let T _n =?? ^?1 nln(n/ln4)+(ln2)/(2??). We prove that 2^?n Z _n (T _n +n??), ?????, converges to the Gompertz curve exp(?(ln2)?e ^??|? ). We also prove a central limit theorem for the martingale associated to Z _n (t).