# Complex semi-definite programming

I'm doing some calculations and I want to simulate them in python or matlab (or whatever). However I use hermitian matrices and I don't really manage to find a library which enables me to calculate primal problems in complex form.

Do you know of any obvious extension to the real problem to calculate the problem using real numbers?

The extension of taking a matrix $A = A_{R} + i A_{I}$ and then construct $$\tilde A = \begin{pmatrix} A_R & -A_I \\ -A_I & A_R \end{pmatrix}$$ will NOT work since in general (and unfortunately in my case too) $\tilde A \neq \tilde{A}^T$, which is needed for real semi definite programs.

So the questions are:

1. Does anyone knows of some software allowing complex semidefinite programming?
2. Does anyone knows about some algorithm to implement in python to solve primal problems of semidefinite programs?

Let me know if the questions are unclear.

• What are you asking for? If you know what the algebraic equations are, it's relatively straightforward to program the matrix operations in whatever language you're familiar with. I notice a large collection of functions in MatLab containing the word "hermitian," for example. – Carl Witthoft Aug 12 '14 at 11:41
• Maybe my question has not been stated clearly, I can modify is, but the question is if anyone knows about semi-definite programming software that allows Complex-valued matrices. Cvxopt (for Python) for example does not allow them. In case nobody knows of such a software or library, if someone knows about some algorithm for solving complex semidefinite programs. – Ognan Aug 12 '14 at 12:31
• Would Computational Science be a better home for this question? – Emilio Pisanty Aug 12 '14 at 12:42
• probably, I'm sorry, I didn't know it existed... – Ognan Aug 13 '14 at 15:29