Fast non-convex low-rank matrix decomposition for separation of potential field data using minimal memory

Abstract: A fast non-convex low-rank matrix decomposition method for potential field data separation is proposed. The singular value decomposition of the large size trajectory matrix, which is also a block Hankel matrix, is obtained using a fast randomized singular value decomposition algorithm in which fast block Hankel matrix-vector multiplications are implemented with minimal memory storage. This fast block Hankel matrix randomized singular value decomposition algorithm is integrated into the \texttt{Altproj} algorithm, which is a standard non-convex method for solving the robust principal component analysis optimization problem. The improved algorithm avoids the construction of the trajectory matrix. Hence, gravity and magnetic data matrices of large size can be computed. Moreover, it is more efficient than the traditional low-rank matrix decomposition method, which is based on the use of an inexact augmented Lagrange multiplier algorithm. The presented algorithm is also robust and, hence, algorithm-dependent parameters are easily determined. The improved and traditional algorithms are contrasted for the separation of synthetic gravity and magnetic data matrices of different sizes. The presented results demonstrate that the improved algorithm is not only computationally more efficient but it is also more accurate. Moreover, it is possible to solve far larger problems. As an example, for the adopted computational environment, matrices of sizes larger than $205 \times 205$ generate "out of memory" exceptions with the traditional method, but a matrix of size $2001\times 2001$ can be calculated in $1062.29$s with the new algorithm. Finally, the improved method is applied to separate real gravity and magnetic data in the Tongling area, Anhui province, China. Areas which may exhibit mineralizations are inferred based on the separated anomalies.