Limit theorems for sample eigenvalues in a generalized spiked population model

In the spiked population model introduced by Johnstone (2001),the population covariance matrix has all its eigenvalues equal to unit except for a few fixed eigenvalues (spikes). The question is to quantify the effect of the perturbation caused by the spike eigenvalues. Baik and Silverstein (2006) establishes the almost sure limits of the extreme sample eigenvalues associated to the spike eigenvalues when the population and the sample sizes become large. In a recent work (Bai and Yao, 2008), we have provided the limiting distributions for these extreme sample eigenvalues. In this paper, we extend this theory to a {\em generalized} spiked population model where the base population covariance matrix is arbitrary, instead of the identity matrix as in Johnstone's case. New mathematical tools are introduced for establishing the almost sure convergence of the sample eigenvalues generated by the spikes.Comment: 24 pages; 4 figure

On determining the number of spikes in a high-dimensional spiked population model

In a spiked population model, the population covariance matrix has all its eigenvalues equal to units except for a few fixed eigenvalues (spikes). Determining the number of spikes is a fundamental problem which appears in many scientific fields, including signal processing (linear mixture model) or economics (factor model). Several recent papers studied the asymptotic behavior of the eigenvalues of the sample covariance matrix (sample eigenvalues) when the dimension of the observations and the sample size both grow to infinity so that their ratio converges to a positive constant. Using these results, we propose a new estimator based on the difference between two consecutive sample eigenvalues

Spatial modelling for mixed-state observations

In several application fields like daily pluviometry data modelling, or motion analysis from image sequences, observations contain two components of different nature. A first part is made with discrete values accounting for some symbolic information and a second part records a continuous (real-valued) measurement. We call such type of observations "mixed-state observations". This paper introduces spatial models suited for the analysis of these kinds of data. We consider multi-parameter auto-models whose local conditional distributions belong to a mixed state exponential family. Specific examples with exponential distributions are detailed, and we present some experimental results for modelling motion measurements from video sequences.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/08-EJS173 the Electronic Journal of Statistics (http://www.i-journals.org/ejs/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Central limit theorems for eigenvalues in a spiked population model

In a spiked population model, the population covariance matrix has all its eigenvalues equal to units except for a few fixed eigenvalues (spikes). This model is proposed by Johnstone to cope with empirical findings on various data sets. The question is to quantify the effect of the perturbation caused by the spike eigenvalues. A recent work by Baik and Silverstein establishes the almost sure limits of the extreme sample eigenvalues associated to the spike eigenvalues when the population and the sample sizes become large. This paper establishes the limiting distributions of these extreme sample eigenvalues. As another important result of the paper, we provide a central limit theorem on random sesquilinear forms.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/07-AIHP118 the Annales de l'Institut Henri Poincar\'e - Probabilit\'es et Statistiques (http://www.imstat.org/aihp/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Tail of a linear diffusion with Markov switching

Let Y be an Ornstein-Uhlenbeck diffusion governed by a stationary and ergodic Markov jump process X: dY_t=a(X_t)Y_t dt+\sigma(X_t) dW_t, Y_0=y_0. Ergodicity conditions for Y have been obtained. Here we investigate the tail propriety of the stationary distribution of this model. A characterization of either heavy or light tail case is established. The method is based on a renewal theorem for systems of equations with distributions on R.Comment: Published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/105051604000000828 in the Annals of Applied Probability (http://www.imstat.org/aap/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Estimation of the Number of Spikes, Possibly Equal, in the High-Dimensional Case

Estimating the number of spikes in a spiked model is an important problem in many areas such as signal processing. Most of the classical approaches assume a large sample size $n$ whereas the dimension $p$ of the observations is kept small. In this paper, we consider the case of high dimension, where $p$ is large compared to $n$. The approach is based on recent results of random matrix theory. We extend our previous results to a more difficult situation where some spikes are equal, and compare our algorithm to an existing benchmark method

Large magneto-optical Kerr effect in noncollinear antiferromagnets Mn3X_{3}X (XX = Rh, Ir, or Pt)

Magneto-optical Kerr effect, normally found in magnetic materials with nonzero magnetization such as ferromagnets and ferrimagnets, has been known for more than a century. Here, using first-principles density functional theory, we demonstrate large magneto-optical Kerr effect in high temperature noncollinear antiferromagnets Mn$_{3}X$ ($X$ = Rh, Ir, or Pt), in contrast to usual wisdom. The calculated Kerr rotation angles are large, being comparable to that of transition metal magnets such as bcc Fe. The large Kerr rotation angles and ellipticities are found to originate from the lifting of the band double-degeneracy due to the absence of spatial symmetry in the Mn$_{3}X$ noncollinear antiferromagnets which together with the time-reversal symmetry would preserve the Kramers theorem. Our results indicate that Mn$_{3}X$ would provide a rare material platform for exploration of subtle magneto-optical phenomena in noncollinear magnetic materials without net magnetization