Steklov regularization and trajectory methods for univariate global optimization (Q2301181)

The authors propose a trajectory-based algorithm, using the Steklov regularization function for finding a global minimizer of univariate coercive functions. For monic quartic polynomials, they prove that this trajectory generates a global minimizer. In the process, some properties of quartic polynomials are derived. Comparisons are made with a previous approach which uses a quadratic regularization function. The authors carry out numerical experiments to illustrate the working of the new method on polynomials of various degree as well as a non-polynomial function.