arXiv Machine Learning

Penalized Nonreversible Langevin for Constrained Sampling

The paper introduces penalized nonreversible Langevin algorithms for sampling from a target distribution constrained to a compact convex set. It combines a squared distance penalty with skew-symmetric perturbations that preserve the penalized Gibbs distribution, and provides nonasymptotic total variation and Wasserstein bounds under various smoothness and contraction assumptions. Numerical experiments demonstrate the methods on constrained Bayesian regression, classification, neural networks, and truncated sampling, highlighting acceleration in a stochastic quadratic model.

Hugging Face Trending Papers
Aug 6

The Tamed Subgradient Unadjusted Langevin Algorithm beyond Convexity

We study the problem of sampling from target distributions whose potentials are simultaneously non-smooth, subject to superlinear gradient growth, and non-convex. We introduce the Subgradient Tamed Unadjusted Langevin Algorithm (SG-TULA), a discretisation of the Langevin diffusion that operates directly on subgradients, without relying on computationally demanding smoothing procedures.

arXiv Machine Learning
Jun 17

Randomized Midpoint Method for Log-Concave Sampling under Constraints

arXiv:2405. 15379v3 Announce Type: replace-cross Abstract: In this paper, we study the problem of sampling from log-concave distributions supported on convex and compact sets, with a particular focus on the randomized midpoint discretization of both overdamped and kinetic Langevin diffusions in constrained domains.

By Yifeng Yu, Shijie Zhang, Lu Yu
arXiv Machine Learning
Aug 27

Improved Analysis for Hessian-free High-resolution Monte Carlo Sampling

The paper introduces Hessian-free high-resolution (HFHR) dynamics, an extension of underdamped Langevin dynamics that incorporates reversible position diffusion for sampling in machine learning. It provides an explicit quantitative contraction rate under a position Poincaré inequality, weighted Hessian and Laplacian bounds, and a compact Sobolev embedding, even when the potential is non‑convex. For the HFHR Monte Carlo algorithm, a path‑space Girsanov argument yields a non‑asymptotic convergence bound and an explicit iteration complexity in total variation distance, improving on previous HFHR results and demonstrating benefits of a positive diffusion parameter through numerical experiments.

By Wujun Lv, Xiaoyu Wang, Yingli Wang, Lingjiong Zhu
arXiv Statistics ML
Aug 26

A Non-asymptotic Analysis for Learning and Applying a Preconditioner in MCMC

The paper presents a non‑asymptotic analysis of Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms that learn and apply a preconditioner based on either the target covariance or the expected Hessian of the target potential. It compares the finite‑time computational costs of these preconditioned schemes with unpreconditioned counterparts, providing guarantees for algorithms such as the Unadjusted Langevin Algorithm (ULA) and the proximal sampler. The analysis relies on a contraction assumption in the Wasserstein‑2 distance to formalize approximate independence and bridge modern MCMC theory with classical effective sample size heuristics.

By Max Hird, Florian Maire, Jeffrey Negrea
arXiv Machine Learning
Aug 10

A proximal subgradient method for nonconvex stochastic optimization under the Kurdyka-{\L}ojasiewicz condition

arXiv:2608. 05460v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: This work introduces a proximal stochastic subgradient method for minimizing the sum of an expected cost, whose integrand is potentially nonsmooth and nonconvex, and a lower semicontinuous, prox-bounded function.

By Felipe Atenas, Alejandro Jofr\'e, Pedro P\'erez-Aros, David Torregrosa-Bel\'en
arXiv Machine Learning
Jul 13

Solving Stochastic Fixed-Point Equations with High Probability

arXiv:2607. 09097v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: We study stochastic fixed-point equations $\mathbf{T}(\mathbf{x}) = \mathbf{x}$ over normed spaces $(\mathcal{E}, \|\cdot\|)$, where the operator $\mathbf{T}$ is nonexpansive or contractive and is accessed only through unbiased stochastic evaluations with bounded second central moment.

By Jelena Diakonikolas