Optimization of a Specific Polynomial

I have a polynomial:

$$f(x_1 \dots x_n) = \prod_{i=1}^n (c_ix_i + 1) - \frac{1}{2}c_0\sum_{i=1}^nx_i^2$$

Given some values for $c_0 \dots c_n$, I'd like to choose the maximizing values for $x_1 \dots x_n$. I'm not concerned with the actual maximum value of $f(x_1 \dots x_n)$, only the values of the inputs $x_1 \dots x_n$, so if there is an equivalent function maximized at the same values I value the solution just as much. The values for any $c$ and any $x$ can be any real value.

I'm not familiar with any easy ways to do this with a polynomial of this type. My best guess is gradient ascent, but I'm not sure the function is convex.

Can anyone tell me if the function is convex, or failing that, if there's another way to find an (approximate) global argmax?

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What values are these variables allowed to take? –  Gjergji Zaimi Jan 10 '12 at 6:43
Note that if there are at least 3 nonzero coefficients among $c_1\dots c_n$ then $f$ is unbounded, both from above and from below. –  Pietro Majer Jan 10 '12 at 9:56
@Pietro Majer - I'm missing something; Can you explain why this is the case? –  Charles Parker Jan 11 '12 at 1:22
@Gjergji Zaimi - The variables must take real values. I've edited the question. –  Charles Parker Jan 11 '12 at 1:25
Presumably you want the subscripts in your product and sum to range over $i=1,\ldots,n$, rather than have each term pinned to its value at sub$_n$. –  Joseph O'Rourke Jan 11 '12 at 12:03

As noted by Pietro in the comments only a few combinations of $n$ and coefficients will even have a finite maximum, unless you bound your domain. For example, consider $c_0=-2$ and all other $c_i=0$. Even this is unbounded above.
Now, let's assume you either bound your domain, or have ensured that the polynomial is bounded above. The problem of finding the argmax is computationally "difficult" for large $n$ (as in: the cryptography guys worry about this stuff a lot at least in finite fields), so numerical optimization methods do probably make sense. Assuming your coefficients are sufficiently generic, a sequential quadratic programming technique will definitely work much better than gradient-climbing.