On the topology of solutions to random continuous constraint satisfaction problems

We consider the set of solutions to \(M\) random polynomial equations whose \(N\) variables are restricted to the \((N-1)\)-sphere. Each equation has independent Gaussian coefficients and a target value \(V_0\). When solutions exist, they form a manifold. We compute the average Euler characteristic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inarXiv.org
Main Author Kent-Dobias, Jaron
Format Paper
LanguageEnglish
Published Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 23.09.2024
Subjects
Independent variables
Manifolds (mathematics)
Polynomials
Random variables
Spin dynamics
Spin glasses
Topology
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Summary:We consider the set of solutions to \(M\) random polynomial equations whose \(N\) variables are restricted to the \((N-1)\)-sphere. Each equation has independent Gaussian coefficients and a target value \(V_0\). When solutions exist, they form a manifold. We compute the average Euler characteristic of this manifold in the limit of large \(N\), and find different behavior depending on the target value \(V_0\), the ratio \(\alpha=M/N\), and the variances of the coefficients. We divide this behavior into five phases with different implications for the topology of the solution manifold. When \(M=1\) there is a correspondence between this problem and level sets of the energy in the spherical spin glasses. We conjecture that the transition energy dividing two of the topological phases corresponds to the energy asymptotically reached by gradient descent from a random initial condition, possibly resolving an open problem in out-of-equilibrium dynamics.
ISSN:2331-8422