Hessian Riemannian gradient flows in convex programming

Abstract: Motivated by a constrained minimization problem, it is studied the gradient flows with respect to Hessian Riemannian metrics induced by convex functions of Legendre type. The first result characterizes Hessian Riemannian structures on convex sets as those metrics that have a specific integration property with respect to variational inequalities, giving a new motivation for the introduction of Bregman-type distances. Then, the general evolution problem is introduced and a differential inclusion reformulation is given. A general existence result is proved and global convergence is established under quasi-convexity conditions, with interesting refinements in the case of convex minimization. Some explicit examples of these gradient flows are discussed. Dual trajectories are identified and sufficient conditions for dual convergence are examined for a convex program with positivity and equality constraints. Some convergence rate results are established. In the case of a linear objective function, several optimality characterizations of the orbits are given: optimal path of viscosity methods, continuous-time model of Bregman-type proximal algorithms, geodesics for some adequate metrics and projections of $\dot q$-trajectories of some Lagrange equations and completely integrable Hamiltonian systems.