martes, 26 de enero de 2010

Optimal tuning of the Hybrid Monte-Carlo Algorithm. (arXiv:1001.4460v1 [math.PR])


We investigate the properties of the Hybrid Monte-Carlo algorithm (HMC) in
high dimensions. HMC develops a Markov chain reversible w.r.t. a given target
distribution $Pi$ by using separable Hamiltonian dynamics with potential
$-logPi$. The additional momentum variables are chosen at random from the
Boltzmann distribution and the continuous-time Hamiltonian dynamics are then
discretised using the leapfrog scheme. The induced bias is removed via a
Metropolis-Hastings accept/reject rule. In the simplified scenario of
independent, identically distributed components, we prove that, to obtain an
$mathcal{O}(1)$ acceptance probability as the dimension $d$ of the state space
tends to $infty$, the leapfrog step-size $h$ should be scaled as $h= l imes
d^{-1/4}$. Therefore, in high dimensions, HMC requires $mathcal{O}(d^{1/4})$
steps to traverse the state space. We also identify analytically the
asymptotically optimal acceptance probability, which turns out to be 0.651 (to
three decimal places). This is the choice which optimally balances the cost of
generating a proposal, which {em decreases} as $l$ increases, against the cost
related to the average number of proposals required to obtain acceptance, which
{em increases} as $l$ increases.





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Published by xFruits
Original source : http://arxiv.org/abs/1001.4460...

Solving Schubert Problems with Littlewood-Richardson Homotopies. (arXiv:1001.4125v1 [math.NA])


We present a new numerical homotopy continuation algorithm for finding all
solutions to Schubert problems on Grassmannians. This Littlewood-Richardson
homotopy is based on Vakil's geometric proof of the Littlewood-Richardson rule.
Its start solutions are given by linear equations and they are tracked through
a sequence of homotopies encoded by certain checker configurations to find the
solutions to a given Schubert problem. For generic Schubert problems the number
of paths tracked is optimal. The Littlewood-Richardson homotopy algorithm is
implemented using the path trackers of the software package PHCpack.





Published by
Published by xFruits
Original source : http://arxiv.org/abs/1001.4125...

Numerical Studies of Three-dimensional Stochastic Darcy’s Equation and Stochastic Advection-Diffusion-Dispersion Equation


Abstract  Solute transport in randomly heterogeneous porous media is commonly described by stochastic flow and advection-dispersion
equations with a random hydraulic conductivity field. The statistical distribution of conductivity of engineered and naturally
occurring porous material can vary, depending on its origin. We describe solutions of a three-dimensional stochastic advection-dispersion
equation using a probabilistic collocation method (PCM) on sparse grids for several distributions of hydraulic conductivity.
Three random distributions of log hydraulic conductivity are considered: uniform, Gaussian, and truncated Gaussian (beta).
Log hydraulic conductivity is represented by a Karhunen-Loève (K-L) decomposition as a second-order random process with an
exponential covariance function. The convergence of PCM has been demonstrated. It appears that the accuracy in both the mean
and the standard deviation of PCM solutions can be improved by using the Jacobi-chaos representing the truncated Gaussian
distribution rather than the Hermite-chaos for the Gaussian distribution. The effect of type of distribution and parameters
such as the variance and correlation length of log hydraulic conductivity and dispersion coefficient on leading moments of
the advection velocity and solute concentration was investigated.




A Compact Fourth Order Scheme for the Helmholtz Equation in Polar Coordinates


Abstract  In many problems, one wishes to solve the Helmholtz equation in cylindrical or spherical coordinates which introduces variable
coefficients within the differentiated terms. Fourth order accurate methods are desirable to reduce pollution and dispersion
errors and so alleviate the points-per-wavelength constraint. However, the variable coefficients renders existing fourth order
finite difference methods inapplicable. We develop a new compact scheme that is provably fourth order accurate even for these
problems. The resulting system of finite difference equations is solved by a separation of variables technique based on the
FFT. Moreover, in the r direction the unbounded domain is replaced by a finite domain, and an exact artificial boundary condition is specified as
a closure. This global boundary condition fits naturally into the inversion of the linear system. We present numerical results
that corroborate the fourth order convergence rate for several scattering problems.




A note on the O(n)-storage implementation of the GKO algorithm and its adaptation to Trummer-like matrices





An O(h6) numerical solution of general nonlinear fifth-order two point boundary value problems


Abstract  A sixth-order numerical scheme is developed for general nonlinear fifth-order two point boundary-value problems. The standard
sextic spline for the solution of fifth order two point boundary-value problems gives only O(h
2) accuracy and leads to non-optimal approximations. In order to derive higher orders of accuracy, high order perturbations
of the problem are generated and applied to construct the numerical algorithm. O(h
6) global error estimates obtained for these problems. The convergence properties of the method is studied. This scheme has
been applied to the system of nonlinear fifth order two-point boundary value problem too. Numerical results are given to illustrate
the efficiency of the proposed method computationally. Results from the numerical experiments, verify the theoretical behavior
of the orders of convergence.




A variable step-size control algorithm for the weak approximation of stochastic differential equations





A binary powering Schur algorithm for computing primary matrix roots





A Kantorovich-type convergence analysis of the Newton–Josephy method for solving variational inequalities





Phase equilibria of polyaromatic hydrocarbons by hybrid Monte Carlo Wang-Landau simulations