4,757 research outputs found
Local Kernels and the Geometric Structure of Data
We introduce a theory of local kernels, which generalize the kernels used in
the standard diffusion maps construction of nonparametric modeling. We prove
that evaluating a local kernel on a data set gives a discrete representation of
the generator of a continuous Markov process, which converges in the limit of
large data. We explicitly connect the drift and diffusion coefficients of the
process to the moments of the kernel. Moreover, when the kernel is symmetric,
the generator is the Laplace-Beltrami operator with respect to a geometry which
is influenced by the embedding geometry and the properties of the kernel. In
particular, this allows us to generate any Riemannian geometry by an
appropriate choice of local kernel. In this way, we continue a program of
Belkin, Niyogi, Coifman and others to reinterpret the current diverse
collection of kernel-based data analysis methods and place them in a geometric
framework. We show how to use this framework to design local kernels invariant
to various features of data. These data-driven local kernels can be used to
construct conformally invariant embeddings and reconstruct global
diffeomorphisms
Disclinations, dislocations and continuous defects: a reappraisal
Disclinations, first observed in mesomorphic phases, are relevant to a number
of ill-ordered condensed matter media, with continuous symmetries or frustrated
order. They also appear in polycrystals at the edges of grain boundaries. They
are of limited interest in solid single crystals, where, owing to their large
elastic stresses, they mostly appear in close pairs of opposite signs. The
relaxation mechanisms associated with a disclination in its creation, motion,
change of shape, involve an interplay with continuous or quantized dislocations
and/or continuous disclinations. These are attached to the disclinations or are
akin to Nye's dislocation densities, well suited here. The notion of 'extended
Volterra process' takes these relaxation processes into account and covers
different situations where this interplay takes place. These concepts are
illustrated by applications in amorphous solids, mesomorphic phases and
frustrated media in their curved habit space. The powerful topological theory
of line defects only considers defects stable against relaxation processes
compatible with the structure considered. It can be seen as a simplified case
of the approach considered here, well suited for media of high plasticity
or/and complex structures. Topological stability cannot guarantee energetic
stability and sometimes cannot distinguish finer details of structure of
defects.Comment: 72 pages, 36 figure
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