Snig Property of Matrix Low-rank Factorization Model^*

Recently, the matrix factorization model attracts increasing attentions in handling large-scale rank minimization problems, which is essentially a nonconvex minimization problem. Specifically, it is a quadratic least squares problem and consequently a quartic polynomial optimization problem. In this paper, we introduce a concept of the SNIG (“Second-order Necessary optimality Implies Global optimality”) condition which stands for the property that any second-order stationary point of the matrix factorization model must be a global minimizer. Some scenarios under which the SNIG condition holds are presented. Furthermore, we illustrate by an example when the SNIG condition may fail.