Weak Closed-loop Solvability for Discrete-time Stochastic Linear-Quadratic Optimal Control

Abstract: In this paper, the solvability of discrete-time stochastic linear-quadratic (LQ) optimal control problem in finite horizon is considered. Firstly, it shows that the closed-loop solvability for the LQ control problem is optimal if and only if the generalized Riccati equation admits a regular solution by solving the forward and backward difference equations iteratively. To this ends, it finds that the open-loop solvability is strictly weaker than closed-loop solvability, that is, the LQ control problem is always open-loop optimal solvable if it is closed-loop optimal solvable but not vice versa. Secondly, by the perturbation method, it proves that the weak-closed loop strategy which is a feedback form of a state feedback representation is equivalent to the open-loop solvability of the LQ control problem. Finally, an example sheds light on the theoretical results established.