39,068 research outputs found
Nonparametric Uncertainty Quantification for Stochastic Gradient Flows
This paper presents a nonparametric statistical modeling method for
quantifying uncertainty in stochastic gradient systems with isotropic
diffusion. The central idea is to apply the diffusion maps algorithm to a
training data set to produce a stochastic matrix whose generator is a discrete
approximation to the backward Kolmogorov operator of the underlying dynamics.
The eigenvectors of this stochastic matrix, which we will refer to as the
diffusion coordinates, are discrete approximations to the eigenfunctions of the
Kolmogorov operator and form an orthonormal basis for functions defined on the
data set. Using this basis, we consider the projection of three uncertainty
quantification (UQ) problems (prediction, filtering, and response) into the
diffusion coordinates. In these coordinates, the nonlinear prediction and
response problems reduce to solving systems of infinite-dimensional linear
ordinary differential equations. Similarly, the continuous-time nonlinear
filtering problem reduces to solving a system of infinite-dimensional linear
stochastic differential equations. Solving the UQ problems then reduces to
solving the corresponding truncated linear systems in finitely many diffusion
coordinates. By solving these systems we give a model-free algorithm for UQ on
gradient flow systems with isotropic diffusion. We numerically verify these
algorithms on a 1-dimensional linear gradient flow system where the analytic
solutions of the UQ problems are known. We also apply the algorithm to a
chaotically forced nonlinear gradient flow system which is known to be well
approximated as a stochastically forced gradient flow.Comment: Find the associated videos at: http://personal.psu.edu/thb11
Adaptive Nonlocal Filtering: A Fast Alternative to Anisotropic Diffusion for Image Enhancement
The goal of many early visual filtering processes is to remove noise while at the same time sharpening contrast. An historical succession of approaches to this problem, starting with the use of simple derivative and smoothing operators, and the subsequent realization of the relationship between scale-space and the isotropic dfffusion equation, has recently resulted in the development of "geometry-driven" dfffusion. Nonlinear and anisotropic diffusion methods, as well as image-driven nonlinear filtering, have provided improved performance relative to the older isotropic and linear diffusion techniques. These techniques, which either explicitly or implicitly make use of kernels whose shape and center are functions of local image structure are too computationally expensive for use in real-time vision applications. In this paper, we show that results which are largely equivalent to those obtained from geometry-driven diffusion can be achieved by a process which is conceptually separated info two very different functions. The first involves the construction of a vector~field of "offsets", defined on a subset of the original image, at which to apply a filter. The offsets are used to displace filters away from boundaries to prevent edge blurring and destruction. The second is the (straightforward) application of the filter itself. The former function is a kind generalized image skeletonization; the latter is conventional image filtering. This formulation leads to results which are qualitatively similar to contemporary nonlinear diffusion methods, but at computation times that are roughly two orders of magnitude faster; allowing applications of this technique to real-time imaging. An additional advantage of this formulation is that it allows existing filter hardware and software implementations to be applied with no modification, since the offset step reduces to an image pixel permutation, or look-up table operation, after application of the filter
Diffusion Maps Kalman Filter for a Class of Systems with Gradient Flows
In this paper, we propose a non-parametric method for state estimation of
high-dimensional nonlinear stochastic dynamical systems, which evolve according
to gradient flows with isotropic diffusion. We combine diffusion maps, a
manifold learning technique, with a linear Kalman filter and with concepts from
Koopman operator theory. More concretely, using diffusion maps, we construct
data-driven virtual state coordinates, which linearize the system model. Based
on these coordinates, we devise a data-driven framework for state estimation
using the Kalman filter. We demonstrate the strengths of our method with
respect to both parametric and non-parametric algorithms in three tracking
problems. In particular, applying the approach to actual recordings of
hippocampal neural activity in rodents directly yields a representation of the
position of the animals. We show that the proposed method outperforms competing
non-parametric algorithms in the examined stochastic problem formulations.
Additionally, we obtain results comparable to classical parametric algorithms,
which, in contrast to our method, are equipped with model knowledge.Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures, submitted to IEEE TS
Euclidean Quantum Mechanics and Universal Nonlinear Filtering
An important problem in applied science is the continuous nonlinear filtering
problem, i.e., the estimation of a Langevin state that is observed indirectly.
In this paper, it is shown that Euclidean quantum mechanics is closely related
to the continuous nonlinear filtering problem. The key is the configuration
space Feynman path integral representation of the fundamental solution of a
Fokker-Planck type of equation termed the Yau Equation of continuous-continuous
filtering. A corollary is the equivalence between nonlinear filtering problem
and a time-varying Schr\"odinger equation.Comment: 19 pages, LaTeX, interdisciplinar
An Optimal Control Derivation of Nonlinear Smoothing Equations
The purpose of this paper is to review and highlight some connections between
the problem of nonlinear smoothing and optimal control of the Liouville
equation. The latter has been an active area of recent research interest owing
to work in mean-field games and optimal transportation theory. The nonlinear
smoothing problem is considered here for continuous-time Markov processes. The
observation process is modeled as a nonlinear function of a hidden state with
an additive Gaussian measurement noise. A variational formulation is described
based upon the relative entropy formula introduced by Newton and Mitter. The
resulting optimal control problem is formulated on the space of probability
distributions. The Hamilton's equation of the optimal control are related to
the Zakai equation of nonlinear smoothing via the log transformation. The
overall procedure is shown to generalize the classical Mortensen's minimum
energy estimator for the linear Gaussian problem.Comment: 7 pages, 0 figures, under peer reviewin
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