Gauss-Southwell type descent methods for low-rank matrix optimization

We consider gradient-related methods for low-rank matrix optimization with a smooth cost function. The methods operate on single factors of the low-rank factorization and share aspects of both alternating and Riemannian optimization. Two possible choices for the search directions based on Gauss-Southwell type selection rules are compared: one using the gradient of a factorized non-convex formulation, the other using the Riemannian gradient. While both methods provide gradient convergence guarantees that are similar to the unconstrained case, the version based on Riemannian gradient is significantly more robust with respect to small singular values and the condition number of the cost function, as illustrated by numerical experiments. As a side result of our approach, we also obtain new convergence results for the alternating least squares method.