We establish characterizations of variational s-convexity and tilt stability for prox-regular functions in the absence of subdifferential continuity via quadratic bundles, a kind of primal-dual generalized second-order derivatives recently introduced by Rockafellar. Deriving such characterizations in the effective pointbased form requires a certain revision of quadratic bundles investigated below. Our device is based on the notion of generalized twice differentiability and its novel characterization via classical twice differentiability of the associated Moreau envelopes combined with various limiting procedures for functions and sets.

Contact details are reproduced from the original publication and may be historical.

Pham Duy Khanh

Dept. of Mathematics, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

khanhpd@hcmue.edu.vn

Boris S. Mordukhovich

Dept. of Mathematics, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.

aa1086@wayne.ed

Vo Thanh Phat

Dept. of Mathematics & Statistics, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, U.S.A.

thanh.vo.1@und.edu

Le Duc Viet

Dept. of Mathematics, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.

vietle@wayne.edu
  1. H. Attouch: Variational Convergence for Functions and Operators, Pitman, London (1984).Google Scholar
  2. P. Cannarsa, C. Sinestrari: Semiconcave Functions, Hamilton-Jacobi Equations, and Optimal Control, Springer, Berlin (2004).https://doi.org/10.1007/b138356Google Scholar
  3. N. H. Chieu, L. V. Hien, T. T. A. Nghia: Characterization of tilt stability via subgradient graphical derivative with applications to nonlinear programming, SIAM J. Optim. 28 (2018) 2246–2273.https://doi.org/10.1137/17M1130794Google Scholar
  4. N. H. Chieu, L. V. Hien, T. T. A. Nghia, H. A. Tuan: Quadratic growth and strong metric subregularity of the subdifferential via subgradient graphical derivative, SIAM J. Optim. 31 (2021) 545–568.https://doi.org/10.1137/19M1242732Google Scholar
  5. D. Drusvyatskiy, A. S. Lewis: Tilt stability, uniform quadratic growth, and strong metric regularity of the subdifferential, SIAM J. Optim. 23 (2013) 256–267.https://doi.org/10.1137/120876551Google Scholar
  6. D. Drusvyatskiy, B. S. Mordukhovich, T. T. A. Nghia: Second-order growth, tilt stability, and metric regularity of the subdifferential, J. Convex Analysis 21 (2014) 1165–1192.https://doi.org/10.68381/jca21061Google Scholar
  7. H. Gfrerer: On second-order variational analysis of variational convexity of prox-regular functions, Set-Valued Var. Analysis 33/1 (2025), art.no. 8.https://doi.org/10.1007/s11228-025-00744-8Google Scholar
  8. H. Gfrerer, B. S. Mordukhovich: Complete characterizations of tilt stability in nonlinear programming under weakest qualification conditions, SIAM J. Optim. 25 (2015) 2081–2119.https://doi.org/10.1137/15M1012608Google Scholar
  9. J. B. Hiriart-Urruty, C. Lemaréchal: Fundamentals of Convex Analysis, Springer, Berlin (2004).Google Scholar
  10. J. B. Hiriart-Urruty, J. J. Strodiot, V. H. Nguyen: Generalized Hessian matrix and second-order optimality conditions for problems with C 1,1 data, Appl. Math. Optim. 11 (1984) 43–56.https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01442169Google Scholar
  11. P. D. Khanh, V. V. H. Khoa, B. S. Mordukhovich, V. T. Phat: Variational and strong variational convexity in infinite-dimensional variational analysis, SIAM J. Optim. 34 (2024) 2756–2787.https://doi.org/10.1137/23M1604667Google Scholar
  12. P. D. Khanh, V. V. H. Khoa, B. S. Mordukhovich, V. T. Phat: Second-order subdifferential optimality conditions in nonsmooth optimization, SIAM J. Optim. 35 (2025) 678–711.https://doi.org/10.1137/23M1627237Google Scholar
  13. P. D. Khanh, B. S. Mordukhovich, V. T. Phat: Variational convexity of functions and variational sufficiency in optimization, SIAM J. Optim. 33 (2023) 1121–1158.https://doi.org/10.1137/22M1519250Google Scholar
  14. P. D. Khanh, B. S. Mordukhovich, V. T. Phat: Coderivative-based Newton methods in structured nonconvex and nonsmooth optimization, arXiv: 2403.04262 (2024).Google Scholar
  15. P. D. Khanh, B. S. Mordukhovich, V. T. Phat, L. D. Viet: Generalized twice differentiability and quadratic bundles in second-order variational analysis, Set-Valued Var. Analysis 34/2 (2026), art.no. 11, 39p.https://doi.org/10.1007/s11228-026-00795-5Google Scholar
  16. A. Mohammadi, B. S. Mordukhovich, M. E. Sarabi: Parabolic regularity in geometric variational analysis, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 374 (2021) 1711–1763.https://doi.org/10.1090/tran/8253Google Scholar
  17. A. Mohammadi, M. E. Sarabi: Twice epi-differentiability of extended-real-valued functions with applications to composite optimization, SIAM J. Optim. 30 (2020) 2379–2409.https://doi.org/10.1137/19M1300066Google Scholar
  18. B. S. Mordukhovich: Sensitivity analysis in nonsmooth optimization, in: Theoretical Aspects of Industrial Design, Proc. SIAM Regional Conference on Industrial Design Theory, A. Field et al. (eds.), SIAM, Philadelphia (1992) 32–46.Google Scholar
  19. B. S. Mordukhovich: Variational Analysis and Generalized Differentiation. I: Basic Theory, Springer, Berlin (2006).https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-31247-1Google Scholar
  20. B. S. Mordukhovich: Variational Analysis and Applications, Springer, Cham (2018).https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92775-6Google Scholar
  21. B. S. Mordukhovich: Second-Order Variational Analysis in Optimization, Variational Stability, and Control: Theory, Algorithms, Applications, Springer, Cham (2024).https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-53476-8Google Scholar
  22. B. S. Mordukhovich, T. T. A. Nghia: Second-order variational analysis and characterizations of tilt-stable optimal solutions in infinite-dimensional spaces, Nonlinear Analysis 86 (2013) 159–180.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.na.2013.03.014Google Scholar
  23. B. S. Mordukhovich, T. T. A. Nghia: Second-order characterizations of tilt stability with applications to nonlinear programming, Math. Programming 149 (2015) 87–104.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10107-013-0739-8Google Scholar
  24. B. S. Mordukhovich, J. V. Outrata, H. Ramírez C.: Second-order variational analysis in conic programming with applications to optimality conditions and stability, SIAM J. Optim. 25/1 (2015) 76–101.https://doi.org/10.1137/120903221Google Scholar
  25. B. S. Mordukhovich, R. T. Rockafellar: Second-order subdifferential calculus with applications to tilt stability in optimization, SIAM J. Optim. 22 (2012) 953–986.https://doi.org/10.1137/110852528Google Scholar
  26. R. A. Poliquin, R. T. Rockafellar: Prox-regular functions in variational analysis, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 348 (1996) 1805–1838.https://doi.org/10.1090/S0002-9947-96-01544-9Google Scholar
  27. R. A. Poliquin, R. T. Rockafellar: Tilt stability of a local minimum, SIAM J. Optim. 8 (1998) 287–299.https://doi.org/10.1137/S1052623496309296Google Scholar
  28. R. T. Rockafellar: Maximal monotone relations and the second derivatives of nonsmooth functions, Ann. Inst. H. Poincaré, Anal. Non Linéaire 2 (1985) 167–184.https://doi.org/10.1016/s0294-1449(16)30401-2Google Scholar
  29. R. T. Rockafellar: Variational convexity and the local monotonicity of subgradient mappings, Vietnam J. Math. 47 (2019) 547–561.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10013-019-00339-5Google Scholar
  30. R. T. Rockafellar: Augmented Lagrangians and hidden convexity in sufficient conditions for local optimality, Math. Programming 198 (2023) 159–194.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10107-022-01768-wGoogle Scholar
  31. R. T. Rockafellar: Convergence of augmented Lagrangian methods in extensions beyond nonlinear programming, Math. Programming 199 (2023) 375–420,https://doi.org/10.1007/s10107-022-01832-5Google Scholar
  32. R. T. Rockafellar, Derivative tests for prox-regularity and the modulus of convexity, J. Convex Analysis 33/1&2 (2026) 243–266.https://doi.org/10.68381/jca33016Google Scholar
  33. R. T. Rockafellar: Variational convexity and prox-regularity, J. Convex Analysis 33/3&4 (2026) 1047–1058.https://doi.org/10.68381/jca33055Google Scholar
  34. R. T. Rockafellar, R. J.-B. Wets: Variational Analysis, Grundlehren der Mathematischen Wissenschaften 317, Springer, Berlin (1998).https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-02431-3Google Scholar
  35. L. Thibault: Unilateral Variational Analysis in Banach spaces, World Scientific, Singapore (2023).https://doi.org/10.1142/12797Google Scholar
  36. R. A. Wijsman: Convergence of sequences of convex sets, cones and functions, Bull. Amer. Math. Soc. 70 (1964) 186–188.https://doi.org/10.1090/S0002-9904-1964-11072-7Google Scholar

P. D. Khanh, B. S. Mordukhovich, V. T. Phat, L. D. Viet. “Characterizations of Variational Convexity and Tilt Stability via Quadratic Bundles.” Journal of Convex Analysis 33 (2026), No. 3&4, 903–924. https://doi.org/10.68381/jca33050