A finite (μ, Ѕ)-frame variety consists of the real or complex matrices

F = [f1 … fn] with frame operator FF* = S, and which also satisfies

||fi|| = μi for all i = 1,...,N. Here, S is a fixed Hermitian

positive definite matrix and μ = [μ1...μN] is a fixed list of

lengths. These spaces generalize the well-known spaces of finite unit-norm tight

frames. We explore the local geometry of these spaces and develop

geometric optimization algorithms based on the resulting insights.

 We study the local geometric structure of the (μ, Ѕ)-frame

varieties by viewing them as intersections of generalized tori (the length

constraints) with distorted Stiefel manifolds (the frame operator constraint).

Exploiting this perspective, we characterize the nonsingular points of these

varieties by determining where this intersection is transversal in a

Hilbert-Schmidt sphere. A corollary of this characterization is a

characterization of the tangent spaces of (μ, Ѕ)-frame varieties, which is

in turn leveraged to validate explicit local coordinate systems. Explict bases

for the tangent spaces are also constructed.

 Geometric optimization over a (μ, Ѕ)-frame variety is performed by combining

knowledge of the tangent spaces with geometric optimization of the frame

operator distance over a product of spheres. Given a differentiable objective

function, we project the full gradient onto the tangent space and then minimize

the frame operator distance to obtain an approximate gradient descent algorithm.

To partially validate this procedure, we demonstrate that the induced flow

converges locally. Using Sherman-Morrision type formulas, we also

describe a technique for constructing points on these varieties that can be used

to initialize the optimization procedure. Finally, we apply the approximate

gradient descent procedure to numerically construct equiangular

tight frames, Grassmannian frames, and Welch bound equality sequences with low

mutual coherence.