Nonconvex Optimization and the Curse of Local Minima - Lessons Learned from Orbital Tomography

Explore nonconvex optimization and the challenges of local minima in this 24-minute conference talk from the "One World Optimization Seminar in Vienna" workshop at the Erwin Schrödinger International Institute for Mathematics and Physics. Delve into an analysis of optimization algorithms that goes beyond global convergence to critical points, focusing on the quality of fixed points in relation to the optimization model. Discover a criterion for recommending algorithms in nonconvex optimization, and see its application to orbital tomography, the problem of observing molecular electronic orbitals from sparse data. Learn why traditional approaches to convex optimization may fall short when dealing with nonconvex problems and gain insights into more effective strategies for tackling these complex optimization challenges.