Extrinsic Methods for Coding and Dictionary Learning on Grassmann Manifolds

Sparsity-based representations have recently led to notable results in various visual recognition tasks. In a separate line of research, Riemannian manifolds have been shown useful for dealing with features and models that do not lie in Euclidean spaces. With the aim of building a bridge between the two realms, we address the problem of sparse coding and dictionary learning over the space of linear subspaces, which form Riemannian structures known as Grassmann manifolds. To this end, we propose to embed Grassmann manifolds into the space of symmetric matrices by an isometric mapping. This in turn enables us to extend two sparse coding schemes to Grassmann manifolds. Furthermore, we propose closed-form solutions for learning a Grassmann dictionary, atom by atom. Lastly, to handle non-linearity in data, we extend the proposed Grassmann sparse coding and dictionary learning algorithms through embedding into Hilbert spaces. Experiments on several classification tasks (gender recognition, gesture classification, scene analysis, face recognition, action recognition and dynamic texture classification) show that the proposed approaches achieve considerable improvements in discrimination accuracy, in comparison to state-of-the-art methods such as kernelized Affine Hull Method and graph-embedding Grassmann discriminant analysis.Comment: Appearing in International Journal of Computer Visio

A Framework for Non-Gaussian Functional Integrals with Applications

Functional integrals can be defined in terms of families of locally compact topological groups and their associated Banach-valued Haar integrals. The definition forgoes the goal of constructing a genuine measure on the domain of integration, but instead provides for a topological realization of localization in the infinite-dimensional domain. This leads to measurable subspaces that characterize meaningful functional integrals and a scheme that possesses significant potential for constructing and representing non-commutative Banach algebras. The framework includes, within a broader structure, other successful approaches to define functional integrals in restricted cases, and it suggests new and potentially useful functional integrals that go beyond the standard Gaussian case. In particular, functional integrals based on skew-Hermitian and K\"{a}hler quadratic forms are defined and developed. Also defined are gamma-type and Poisson-type functional integrals based on linear forms suggested by the gamma probability distribution. These and their generalizations are expected to play a leading role in generating $C^\ast$-algebras of quantum systems. Several applications and implications are explored.Comment: This is the first of two papers representing an expanded version of arXiv:1308.106

Massive Nonlinear Sigma Models and BPS Domain Walls in Harmonic Superspace

Four-dimensional massive N=2 nonlinear sigma models and BPS wall solutions are studied in the off-shell harmonic superspace approach in which N=2 supersymmetry is manifest. The general nonlinear sigma model can be described by an analytic harmonic potential which is the hyper-Kahler analog of the Kahler potential in N=1 theory. We examine the massive nonlinear sigma model with multi-center four-dimensional target hyper-Kahler metrics and derive the corresponding BPS equation. We study in some detail two particular cases with the Taub-NUT and double Taub-NUT metrics. The latter embodies, as its two separate limits, both Taub-NUT and Eguchi-Hanson metrics. We find that domain wall solutions exist only in the double Taub-NUT case including its Eguchi-Hanson limit.Comment: 35 pages, 4 figures, minor corrections and references added, to appear in NP

Paraconformal geometry of nnth order ODEs, and exotic holonomy in dimension four

We characterise $n$th order ODEs for which the space of solutions $M$ is equipped with a particular paraconformal structure in the sense of \cite{BE}, that is a splitting of the tangent bundle as a symmetric tensor product of rank-two vector bundles. This leads to the vanishing of $(n-2)$ quantities constructed from of the ODE. If $n=4$ the paraconformal structure is shown to be equivalent to the exotic ${\cal G}_3$ holonomy of Bryant. If $n=4$, or $n\geq 6$ and $M$ admits a torsion--free connection compatible with the paraconformal structure then the ODE is trivialisable by point or contact transformations respectively. If $n=2$ or 3 $M$ admits an affine paraconformal connection with no torsion. In these cases additional constraints can be imposed on the ODE so that $M$ admits a projective structure if $n=2$, or an Einstein--Weyl structure if $n=3$. The third order ODE can in this case be reconstructed from the Einstein--Weyl data.Comment: Theorem 1.2 strengthened and its proof clarified. Theorem 1.3 generalised to all dimensions, updated references, an example of 5th order ODE on the space of conics in $CP^2$ added, connection with Doubrov-Wilczynski invariants clarified. Final version, to appear in Journal of Geometry and Physic