= Solution
The fidelity norm here is \b[unsquared], as in the original PDF. Write $(s)_+=\max(s,0)$, so $h(Gu)=\sum_i((Gu)_i)_+^2$. Introduce $a,q\in\mathbb R^n$ and $t\in\mathbb R$. The <second-order cone reformulation of one-sided quadratic denoising> is
$$
\boxed{\min_{u,a,q,t}\ t+\lambda\sum_iq_i}
$$
subject to the affine cone constraints
$$
(t,u-g)\in\mathcal Q_{n+1},\qquad
\left(\frac{q_i+1}{2},\frac{q_i-1}{2},a_i\right)\in\mathcal Q_3,\qquad
a_i\geq0,\quad a_i-(Gu)_i\geq0\quad(i=1,\ldots,n),
$$
where $\mathcal Q_d=\{(r,z):r\geq\|z\|_2\}$ is the <second-order cone>. All coordinates displayed inside the cone memberships are affine in the optimization variables, so stacking them has precisely the form $Ax-b\in K$. The first cone enforces $t\geq\|u-g\|_2$, and each three-dimensional cone enforces $q_i\geq a_i^2$. The two scalar inequalities give $a_i\geq((Gu)_i)_+$.
Every feasible lift therefore has objective at least the original objective. Conversely, for any $u$, choose $a_i=((Gu)_i)_+$, $q_i=a_i^2$ and $t=\|u-g\|_2$ to attain equality. Thus the reformulation is exact. It is a <second-order cone program> over the product $K=\mathcal Q_{n+1}\times\mathcal Q_3^n\times\mathbb R_+^{2n}$, a proper closed self-dual cone. It preserves the asymmetric derivative penalty; replacing it by $\|Gu\|^2$ would change the problem.
The canonical Lorentz-cone barrier is $-\log(r^2-\|z\|^2)$ on $r>\|z\|$, and each orthant coordinate contributes $-\log s$. Their sum, composed with the affine slack map, is
$$
\boxed{\mathcal B(u,a,q,t)=-\log(t^2-\|u-g\|^2)
-\sum_i\log(q_i-a_i^2)-\sum_i\log a_i
-\sum_i\log(a_i-(Gu)_i).}
$$
Its domain explicitly requires $t>\|u-g\|$, $q_i>a_i^2$, $a_i>0$ and $a_i>(Gu)_i$; the positive Lorentz branch must not be inferred merely from positivity of a squared expression. The barrier parameter of the product-cone barrier is $\boxed{\nu=4n+2}$, with two per Lorentz block and one per scalar orthant slack. A strict feasible lift can always be obtained by choosing $a$ above both bounds, $q$ above $a^2$, and $t$ above the fidelity norm.
Back to article page