A limit process for partial match queries in random quadtrees and 22-d trees

We consider the problem of recovering items matching a partially specified pattern in multidimensional trees (quadtrees and $k$-d trees). We assume the traditional model where the data consist of independent and uniform points in the unit square. For this model, in a structure on $n$ points, it is known that the number of nodes $C_n(\xi )$ to visit in order to report the items matching a random query $\xi$, independent and uniformly distributed on $[0,1]$, satisfies $\mathbf {E}[{C_n(\xi )}]\sim\kappa n^{\beta}$, where $\kappa$ and $\beta$ are explicit constants. We develop an approach based on the analysis of the cost $C_n(s)$ of any fixed query $s\in[0,1]$, and give precise estimates for the variance and limit distribution of the cost $C_n(x)$. Our results permit us to describe a limit process for the costs $C_n(x)$ as $x$ varies in $[0,1]$; one of the consequences is that $\mathbf {E}[{\max_{x\in[0,1]}C_n(x)}]\sim \gamma n^{\beta}$; this settles a question of Devroye [Pers. Comm., 2000].Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/12-AAP912 the Annals of Applied Probability (http://www.imstat.org/aap/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org). arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1107.223

A limit field for orthogonal range searches in two-dimensional random point search trees

We consider the cost of general orthogonal range queries in random quadtrees. The cost of a given query is encoded into a (random) function of four variables which characterize the coordinates of two opposite corners of the query rectangle. We prove that, when suitably shifted and rescaled, the random cost function converges uniformly in probability towards a random field that is characterized as the unique solution to a distributional fixed-point equation. We also state similar results for $2$-d trees. Our results imply for instance that the worst case query satisfies the same asymptotic estimates as a typical query, and thereby resolve an old question of Chanzy, Devroye and Zamora-Cura [\emph{Acta Inf.}, 37:355--383, 2000]Comment: 24 pages, 8 figure

On the non-holonomic character of logarithms, powers, and the n-th prime function

We establish that the sequences formed by logarithms and by "fractional" powers of integers, as well as the sequence of prime numbers, are non-holonomic, thereby answering three open problems of Gerhold [Electronic Journal of Combinatorics 11 (2004), R87]. Our proofs depend on basic complex analysis, namely a conjunction of the Structure Theorem for singularities of solutions to linear differential equations and of an Abelian theorem. A brief discussion is offered regarding the scope of singularity-based methods and several naturally occurring sequences are proved to be non-holonomic.Comment: 13 page