Asymptotic analysis of the exponential penalty trajectory in linear programming

We consider the linear program min{cx: Axb} and the associated exponential penalty functionf _r(x) = cx + rexp(A _ix – b_i)/r]. Forr close to 0, the unconstrained minimizerx(r) off _r admits an asymptotic expansion of the formx(r) = x ^* + rd^* + (r) wherex ^* is a particular optimal solution of the linear program and the error term(r) has an exponentially fast decay. Using duality theory we exhibit an associated dual trajectory(r) which converges exponentially fast to a particular dual optimal solution. These results are completed by an asymptotic analysis whenr tends to : the primal trajectory has an asymptotic ray and the dual trajectory converges to an interior dual feasible solution.Corresponding author. Both authors partially supported by FONDECYT.