Passivity-based Analysis of the ADMM Algorithm for Constraint-Coupled Optimization

We propose a novel, system theoretic analysis of the Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM) applied to a convex constraint-coupled optimization problem. The resulting algorithm can be interpreted as a linear, discrete-time dynamical system (modeling the multiplier ascent update) in closed loop with a static nonlinearity (representing the minimization of the augmented Lagrangian). When expressed in suitable coordinates, we prove that the discrete-time linear dynamical system has a discrete positive-real transfer function and is interconnected in closed loop with a static, passive nonlinearity. This readily shows that the origin is a stable equilibrium for the feedback interconnection. Finally, we also show global asymptotic stability of the origin for the closed-loop system and, thus, global asymptotic convergence of ADMM to the optimal solution of the optimization problem.