MDL Convergence Speed for Bernoulli Sequences

The Minimum Description Length principle for online sequence estimation/prediction in a proper learning setup is studied. If the underlying model class is discrete, then the total expected square loss is a particularly interesting performance measure: (a) this quantity is finitely bounded, implying convergence with probability one, and (b) it additionally specifies the convergence speed. For MDL, in general one can only have loss bounds which are finite but exponentially larger than those for Bayes mixtures. We show that this is even the case if the model class contains only Bernoulli distributions. We derive a new upper bound on the prediction error for countable Bernoulli classes. This implies a small bound (comparable to the one for Bayes mixtures) for certain important model classes. We discuss the application to Machine Learning tasks such as classification and hypothesis testing, and generalization to countable classes of i.i.d. models.Comment: 28 page

On Martin-Löf convergence of Solomonoff’s mixture

We study the convergence of Solomonoff’s universal mixture on individual Martin-Löf random sequences. A new result is presented extending the work of Hutter and Muchnik (2004) by showing that there does not exist a universal mixture that converges on all Martin-Löf random sequences

Algorithmic Complexity for Short Binary Strings Applied to Psychology: A Primer

Since human randomness production has been studied and widely used to assess executive functions (especially inhibition), many measures have been suggested to assess the degree to which a sequence is random-like. However, each of them focuses on one feature of randomness, leading authors to have to use multiple measures. Here we describe and advocate for the use of the accepted universal measure for randomness based on algorithmic complexity, by means of a novel previously presented technique using the the definition of algorithmic probability. A re-analysis of the classical Radio Zenith data in the light of the proposed measure and methodology is provided as a study case of an application.Comment: To appear in Behavior Research Method

Entropy and Quantum Kolmogorov Complexity: A Quantum Brudno's Theorem

In classical information theory, entropy rate and Kolmogorov complexity per symbol are related by a theorem of Brudno. In this paper, we prove a quantum version of this theorem, connecting the von Neumann entropy rate and two notions of quantum Kolmogorov complexity, both based on the shortest qubit descriptions of qubit strings that, run by a universal quantum Turing machine, reproduce them as outputs.Comment: 26 pages, no figures. Reference to publication added: published in the Communications in Mathematical Physics (http://www.springerlink.com/content/1432-0916/

Challenges of beta-deformation

A brief review of problems, arising in the study of the beta-deformation, also known as "refinement", which appears as a central difficult element in a number of related modern subjects: beta \neq 1 is responsible for deviation from free fermions in 2d conformal theories, from symmetric omega-backgrounds with epsilon_2 = - epsilon_1 in instanton sums in 4d SYM theories, from eigenvalue matrix models to beta-ensembles, from HOMFLY to super-polynomials in Chern-Simons theory, from quantum groups to elliptic and hyperbolic algebras etc. The main attention is paid to the context of AGT relation and its possible generalizations.Comment: 20 page

Orders of simple groups and the Bateman--Horn Conjecture

We use the Bateman–Horn Conjecture from number theory to give strong evidence of a positive answer to Peter Neumann’s question, whether there are infinitely many simple groups of order a product of six primes. (Those with fewer than six were classified by Burnside, Frobenius and Hölder in the 1890s.) The groups satisfying this condition are PSL2 (8), PSL2 (9) and PSL2 (p) for primes such that p2 − 1 is a product of six primes. The conjecture suggests that there are infinitely many such primes p, by providing heuristic estimates for their distribution which agree closely with evidence from computer searches. We also briefly discuss the applications of this conjecture to other problems in group theory, such as the classifications of permutation groups and of linear groups of prime degree, the structure of the power graph of a finite simple group, the construction of highly symmetric block designs, and the possible existence of infinitely many Kn groups for each n ≥ 5.</p

Блок-схемы, группы перестановок и простые значения многочленов.

A recent construction by Amarra, Devillers and Praeger of block designs with specific parameters and large symmetry groups depends on certain quadratic polynomials, with integer coefficients, taking prime power values. Similarly, a recent construction by Hujdurović, Kutnar, Kuzma, Marušič, Miklavič and Orel of permutation groups with specific intersection densities depends on certain cyclotomic polynomials taking prime values. The Bunyakovsky Conjecture, if true, would imply that each of these polynomials takes infinitely many prime values, giving infinite families of block designs and permutation groups with the required properties. We have found large numbers of prime values of these polynomials, and the numbers found agree very closely with the estimates for them provided by Li’s recent modification of the Bateman–Horn Conjecture. While this does not prove that these polynomials take infinitely many prime values, it provides strong evidence for this, and it also adds extra support for the validity of the Bunyakovsky and Bateman–Horn Conjectures.</p