Connectedness of Solution Sets of Strong Vector Equilibrium Problems with an Application

In this paper, the connectedness of solution set of a strong vector equilibrium problem in a finite dimensional space, is investigated. Firstly, a nonconvex separation theorem is given, that is, a neither open nor closed set and a compact subset in a finite dimensional space can be strictly separated by a sublinear and strongly monotone function. Secondly, in terms of the nonconvex separation theorem, the union relation between the solution set of the strong vector equilibrium problem and the solution sets of a series of nonlinear scalar problems, is established. Under suitable assumptions, the connectedness and the path connectedness of the solution set of the strong vector equilibrium problem are obtained. In particular, we solve partly the question related to the path connectedness of the solution set of the strong vector equilibrium problem. The question is proposed by Han and Huang in the reference (J Optim Theory Appl, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10957-016-1032-9). Finally, as an application, we apply the main results to derive the connectedness of the solution set of a linear vector optimization problem.