Equivariant semidefinite lifts and sum-of-squares hierarchies

A central question in optimization is to maximize (or minimize) a linear function over a given polytope P. To solve such a problem in practice one needs a concise description of the polytope P. In this paper we are interested in representations of P using the positive semidefinite cone: a positive semidefinite lift (psd lift) of a polytope P is a representation of P as the projection of an affine slice of the positive semidefinite cone $\mathbf{S}^d_+$. Such a representation allows linear optimization problems over P to be written as semidefinite programs of size d. Such representations can be beneficial in practice when d is much smaller than the number of facets of the polytope P. In this paper we are concerned with so-called equivariant psd lifts (also known as symmetric psd lifts) which respect the symmetries of the polytope P. We present a representation-theoretic framework to study equivariant psd lifts of a certain class of symmetric polytopes known as orbitopes. Our main result is a structure theorem where we show that any equivariant psd lift of size d of an orbitope is of sum-of-squares type where the functions in the sum-of-squares decomposition come from an invariant subspace of dimension smaller than d^3. We use this framework to study two well-known families of polytopes, namely the parity polytope and the cut polytope, and we prove exponential lower bounds for equivariant psd lifts of these polytopes.Comment: v2: 30 pages, Minor changes in presentation; v3: 29 pages, New structure theorem for general orbitopes + changes in presentatio

On the origin of nonclassicality in single systems

In the framework of certain general probability theories of single systems, we identify various nonclassical features such as incompatibility, multiple pure-state decomposability, measurement disturbance, no-cloning and the impossibility of certain universal operations, with the non-simpliciality of the state space. This is shown to naturally suggest an underlying simplex as an ontological model. Contextuality turns out to be an independent nonclassical feature, arising from the intransitivity of compatibility.Comment: Close to the published versio

Igusa's p-adic local zeta function associated to a polynomial mapping and a polynomial integration measure

For p prime, we give an explicit formula for Igusa's local zeta function associated to a polynomial mapping f=(f_1,...,f_t): Q_p^n -> Q_p^t, with f_1,...,f_t in Z_p[x_1,...,x_n], and an integration measure on Z_p^n of the form |g(x)||dx|, with g another polynomial in Z_p[x_1,...,x_n]. We treat the special cases of a single polynomial and a monomial ideal separately. The formula is in terms of Newton polyhedra and will be valid for f and g sufficiently non-degenerated over F_p with respect to their Newton polyhedra. The formula is based on, and is a generalization of results of Denef - Hoornaert, Howald et al., and Veys - Zuniga-Galindo.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures, 2 table

The Parma Polyhedra Library: Toward a Complete Set of Numerical Abstractions for the Analysis and Verification of Hardware and Software Systems

Since its inception as a student project in 2001, initially just for the handling (as the name implies) of convex polyhedra, the Parma Polyhedra Library has been continuously improved and extended by joining scrupulous research on the theoretical foundations of (possibly non-convex) numerical abstractions to a total adherence to the best available practices in software development. Even though it is still not fully mature and functionally complete, the Parma Polyhedra Library already offers a combination of functionality, reliability, usability and performance that is not matched by similar, freely available libraries. In this paper, we present the main features of the current version of the library, emphasizing those that distinguish it from other similar libraries and those that are important for applications in the field of analysis and verification of hardware and software systems.Comment: 38 pages, 2 figures, 3 listings, 3 table