Issue with ConvexOptimization over Matrices with Mathematica 12.2

Question

With Mathematica 12.2, ConvexOptimization was introduced, which, as its name suggests, can solve arbitrary convex optimization problems over matrices [Language Reference]. Using ConvexOptimization can help me get around reformulating my problem into SemidefiniteOptimization, a step that is cumbersome but otherwise works fine.

Hence, to get started, I'm attempting to solve a trial optimization problem with ConvexOptimization.

The following code works as intended.

A = RandomVariate[NormalDistribution[], {4, 4}]
ConvexOptimization[-Log[Det[A.X.Transpose[A]]], {Tr[X] <= 1, VectorGreaterEqual[{X,  0}, {"SemidefiniteCone", 4}]}, {X \[Element] Matrices[{4, 4}, Complexes]}]

However, when I replace the objective function -Log[Det[A.X.Transpose[A]]] with -Log[Det[IdentityMatrix[4] + A.X.Transpose[A]]] to obtain the following optimization problem:

A = RandomVariate[NormalDistribution[], {4, 4}]
ConvexOptimization[-Log[Det[IdentityMatrix[4] + A.X.Transpose[A]]], {Tr[X] <= 1, VectorGreaterEqual[{X,  0}, {"SemidefiniteCone", 4}]}, {X \[Element] Matrices[{4, 4}, Complexes]}]

and evaluate it, Mathematica produces the following error: The argument [...] should not be scalar valued.

I interpret the resulting stack trace on my PC to mean that Mathematica is likely (erroneously) considering the argument to Det a scalar. However, I'm stuck with debugging here.

Would anyone know what might be going wrong? Any suggestions for solving the second optimization problem with ConvexOptimization will be very helpful.

Answer 1

(Too long for a comment)

The basic issue is that evaluating Plus does automatic threading when given an explicit matrix (for example, IdentityMatrix[4] + expr).

One way to work around the threading behavior for this particular case would be something like

A = RandomVariate[NormalDistribution[], {4, 4}];

ConvexOptimization[-Log[Det[B + A . X . Transpose[A]]], 
    {Tr[X] <= 1, VectorGreaterEqual[{X, 0}, {"SemidefiniteCone", 4}],
     B == IdentityMatrix[4]}, 
    {X \[Element] Matrices[{4, 4}, Complexes], B \[Element] Matrices[{4, 4}]}]

The above will work in the currently released versions. In a future release, it will be possible to take the more general approach of using Inactive[Plus], that is

ConvexOptimization[
   -Log[Det[Inactive[Plus][IdentityMatrix[4], A . X . Transpose[A]]]], ...}