Fast dual proximal gradient algorithms with rate O(1/k^(1.5)) for convex minimization

We consider minimizing the composite function that consists of a strongly convex function and a convex function. The fast dual proximal gradient (FDPG) method decreases the dual function with a rate $O(1/k^2)$, leading to a rate $O(1/k)$ for decreasing the primal function. We propose a generalized FDPG method that guarantees an $O(1/k^{1.5})$ rate for the dual proximal gradient norm decrease. By relating this to the primal function decrease, the proposed approach decreases the primal function with the improved $O(1/k^{1.5})$ rate.