A bifurcation analysis of the nonlinear parametric programming problem

The structure of solutions to the nonlinear parametric programming problem with a one dimensional parameter is analyzed in terms of the bifurcation behavior of the curves of critical points and the persistence of minima along these curves. Changes in the structure of the solution occur at singularities of a nonlinear system of equations motivated by the Fritz John first-order necessary conditions. It has been shown that these singularities may be completely partitioned into seven distinct classes based upon the violation of one or more of the following: a complementarity condition, a constraint qualification, and the nonsingularity of the Hessian of the Lagrangian on a tangent space. To apply classical bifurcation techniques to these singularities, a further subdivision of each case is necessary. The structure of curves of critical points near singularities of lowest (zero) codimension within each case is analyzed, as well as the persistence of minima along curves emanating from these singularities. Bifurcation behavior is also investigated or discussed for many of the subcases giving rise to a codimension one singularity.