The $ω$-Condition Number for Optimal Preconditioning and Low Rank Generalized Jacobian Updating

Preconditioning is essential in iterative methods for solving linear systems. It is also the implicit objective in updating approximations of Jacobians in optimization methods, e.g., in quasi-Newton methods. Motivated by the latter, we study a nonclassic matrix condition number, the $\omega$-condition number. We do this in the context of optimal conditioning for: (i) our application to low rank updating of generalized Jacobians; (ii) iterative methods for linear systems: (iia) clustering of eigenvalues and (iib) convergence rates. For a positive definite matrix, the $\omega$-condition measure is the ratio of the arithmetic and geometric means of the eigenvalues. In particular, our applications concentrate on linear systems with low rank updates of ill-conditioned positive definite matrices. These systems arise in the context of nonsmooth Newton methods using generalized Jacobians. We are able to use optimality conditions and derive explicit formulae for $\omega$-optimal preconditioners and preconditioned updates. Connections to partial Cholesky sparse preconditioners are made. Evaluating or estimating the classical condition number $\kappa$ can be expensive. We show that the $\omega$-condition number can be evaluated explicitly following a Cholesky or LU factorization. Moreover, the simplicity of $\omega$ allows for the derivation of formulae for optimal preconditioning in various scenarios, i.e., this avoids the need for expensive algorithmic calculations. Our empirics show that $\omega$ estimates the actual condition of a linear system significantly better. Moreover, our empirical results show a significant decrease in the number of iterations required for a requested accuracy in the residual during an iterative method, i.e., these results confirm the efficacy of using the $\omega$-condition number compared to the classical condition number.