Convex optimization is a standard tool for theoretical physicists doing quantum information and quantum computing. And B & V is the standard reference.
(Don't want to engage in the main debate, but I think this is an interesting tidbit of information. It's an example where a part of mathematics has recently become useful in an unexpected way.)
Sometimes I wonder the case is when we meet any new problem, we first try to fit it into any existing framework in order to understand it, until the framework is broken.
This doesn't debase the beauty of math. But I just feel maybe we just need an excuse to fund mathematicians.
Wow! I didn't know that! Thanks for the info. I know nothing on QIT / QC, but it's interesting and intriguing to see finite-dimensional optimization being used by physics people.
(Don't want to engage in the main debate, but I think this is an interesting tidbit of information. It's an example where a part of mathematics has recently become useful in an unexpected way.)