Factorizing the Stochastic Galerkin System

Recent work has explored solver strategies for the linear system of equations arising from a spectral Galerkin approximation of the solution of PDEs with parameterized (or stochastic) inputs. We consider the related problem of a matrix equation whose matrix and right hand side depend on a set of parameters (e.g. a PDE with stochastic inputs semidiscretized in space) and examine the linear system arising from a similar Galerkin approximation of the solution. We derive a useful factorization of this system of equations, which yields bounds on the eigenvalues, clues to preconditioning, and a flexible implementation method for a wide array of problems. We complement this analysis with (i) a numerical study of preconditioners on a standard elliptic PDE test problem and (ii) a fluids application using existing CFD codes; the MATLAB codes used in the numerical studies are available online.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, 2 table

Approximation of the scattering amplitude

The simultaneous solution of Ax=b and ATy=g is required in a number of situations. Darmofal and Lu have proposed a method based on the Quasi-Minimal residual algorithm (QMR). We will introduce a technique for the same purpose based on the LSQR method and show how its performance can be improved when using the Generalized LSQR method. We further show how preconditioners can be introduced to enhance the speed of convergence and discuss different preconditioners that can be used. The scattering amplitude gTx, a widely used quantity in signal processing for example, has a close connection to the above problem since x represents the solution of the forward problem and g is the right hand side of the adjoint system. We show how this quantity can be efficiently approximated using Gauss quadrature and introduce a Block-Lanczos process that approximates the scattering amplitude and which can also be used with preconditioners

Efficient approximation of functions of some large matrices by partial fraction expansions

Some important applicative problems require the evaluation of functions $\Psi$ of large and sparse and/or \emph{localized} matrices $A$. Popular and interesting techniques for computing $\Psi(A)$ and $\Psi(A)\mathbf{v}$, where $\mathbf{v}$ is a vector, are based on partial fraction expansions. However, some of these techniques require solving several linear systems whose matrices differ from $A$ by a complex multiple of the identity matrix $I$ for computing $\Psi(A)\mathbf{v}$ or require inverting sequences of matrices with the same characteristics for computing $\Psi(A)$. Here we study the use and the convergence of a recent technique for generating sequences of incomplete factorizations of matrices in order to face with both these issues. The solution of the sequences of linear systems and approximate matrix inversions above can be computed efficiently provided that $A^{-1}$ shows certain decay properties. These strategies have good parallel potentialities. Our claims are confirmed by numerical tests

Symmetric Stair Preconditioning of Linear Systems for Parallel Trajectory Optimization

There has been a growing interest in parallel strategies for solving trajectory optimization problems. One key step in many algorithmic approaches to trajectory optimization is the solution of moderately-large and sparse linear systems. Iterative methods are particularly well-suited for parallel solves of such systems. However, fast and stable convergence of iterative methods is reliant on the application of a high-quality preconditioner that reduces the spread and increase the clustering of the eigenvalues of the target matrix. To improve the performance of these approaches, we present a new parallel-friendly symmetric stair preconditioner. We prove that our preconditioner has advantageous theoretical properties when used in conjunction with iterative methods for trajectory optimization such as a more clustered eigenvalue spectrum. Numerical experiments with typical trajectory optimization problems reveal that as compared to the best alternative parallel preconditioner from the literature, our symmetric stair preconditioner provides up to a 34% reduction in condition number and up to a 25% reduction in the number of resulting linear system solver iterations.Comment: Accepted to ICRA 2024, 8 pages, 3 figure