On using trace_inv function

Nonconvex
Dec 14, 2023
S

Hello,

My objective function is convex, It is trace of inverse of symmetric positive definite matrix, Can someone help me in writing it in DCP format. Below is my function, P is a diagonal matrix (TxT), Q is a (TxN) matrix. I have to minimize the function over P and Q. Here α is a scalar and I is an NxN identity matrix. R is a Hermitian matrix (R’=R). I have two constraints norm(P,‘fro’)^2<=P_total and norm(Q,‘fro’)^2<=Q_total.
P is also an hermittian matrix.

I was getting “Only scalar quadratic forms can be specified in CVX” error.
Thanks.
new_opt

M

That is neither convex nor concave. The product of variables ruins convexity. Note that trace_inv(X) is convex for an affine positive semidefintie argument, which is not the case for your expression.

Consider the scalar case. Let R = \alpha = 1. The expression is then 1/(1+P^2*Q^2); That is neither convex nor concave. For example, its Hessian at P = 1, Q = 0.5 has one positive eigenvalue and one negative eigenvalue.

S
Replying to #2

Thank you very much. If the scalar case is not convex, can we always say that the function in higher dimension is also not convex? and for my problem I am allowed to find a convex upper bound, Are there any references for that?

E
Replying to #3

If something is not convex in 1 dimension, then why should it be convex in higher dimensions?