All Questions
Tagged with pr.probability gr.group-theory
102 questions
6
votes
1
answer
569
views
Liouville property - a very basic question
Let $\mathbb{F}_2$ be the free group on two generators. By a result of Kaimanovich and Vershik, for each measure $\mu$ on $\mathbb{F}_2$ such that the support of $\mu$ generates $\mathbb{F}_2$, we ...
- 4,705
6
votes
1
answer
844
views
Random geometries
Let $M$ be a smooth $n$-dimensional manifold, and let $FM = GL(M)$ indicate its tangent frame bundle. Let $G$ be a fixed linear subgroup of $GL(n)$, and consider the space $\mathcal S$ of all $G$-...
- 8,512
6
votes
0
answers
301
views
Generating stationary, ergodic random fields on a homogeneous space
Consider a homogeneous space $M$, which for the sake of concreteness, let's take to be $M = \mathbb R^d$. Fix some space $A$, and consider the space of functions $X = C(M,A)$, along with its Borel $\...
- 8,512
6
votes
0
answers
295
views
Is there an idempotent measure on the free LD system?
This is a follow up question to MO question "Idempotent measures on the free binary system?".
Let $(A,*)$ be the free binary operation on one generator which satisfies the left self distributive law:
...
- 3,547
5
votes
3
answers
314
views
Tracking automorphism groups of graph processes
Start with an edgeless graph on $n$ labeled vertices, and note that the automorphism group is $\Sigma_n$, the symmetric group on $n$ elements. Now imagine that we randomly start throwing in all of the ...
- 15.5k
5
votes
1
answer
412
views
Random pairs of commuting permutations
Let $\Omega_n \subseteq \mathrm{Sym}(n)^4$ be the set of all $4$-tuples $(\sigma_1,\sigma_2,\tau_1,\tau_2)$ of permutations of $\{1,\ldots,n\}$ such that $\sigma_j \tau_k = \tau_k \sigma_j$ for each ...
- 1,769
5
votes
1
answer
774
views
Probabilities of a random walk exiting a set
Let $F$ be a finite connected set in a graph (soon to be the Cayley graph of a group) and $\mathrm{Ex}_x^F$ be the function on the vertices in $F^c$ which are neighbour to vertices in $F$ defined as ...
- 4,432
5
votes
2
answers
389
views
Divergence of Green function of random walks at spectral radius
Let $P=(p(x,y))_{x, y\in N}$ be the transition matrix over countable states $N$.
Consider the generating Green function $G(x, y|t)=\sum_{0}^{\infty} p^n(x, y) t^n$, where $p^n(x,y)$ is the $(x,y)$-...
- 619
5
votes
1
answer
437
views
Stationary, ergodic measures from the structuralist point of view
Stationary, ergodic measures are a class of objects very familiar to probabilists. In a sense, these are the weakest generalization of the classic case of independent, identically distributed random ...
- 8,512
4
votes
2
answers
359
views
Random walk uniformly hitting a compact set
Suppose $G$ is a locally compact compactly generated group. Let $\mu$ be a probability measure that is:
Adapted to $G$, i.e. there is no proper subgroup $H$ such that $\mu(H)=1$.
Symmetric, i.e. $\...
- 527
4
votes
1
answer
400
views
Speed of random walks in groups
I've seen some estimates for the decay in $d$ of the probability a SRW makes a distance $d$ in time $n$, but is there any reference for the "speed" of a random walk in a group? I'm interested mostly ...
- 4,432
4
votes
1
answer
557
views
Symmetries of the standard probability space
The standard probability space $(I, \mathcal B, \lambda)$ consists of the interval $I = [0,1]$, its Borel $\sigma$-algebra $\mathcal B := \mathcal B(I)$ and Lebesgue measure $\lambda$. In applications,...
4
votes
1
answer
204
views
Estimates for simple random walks in groups of intermediate growth
I'm looking for references for the rate of escape and return probability for a group of intermediate growth.
Let $0<\alpha < 1$. If the volume growth is $\succeq \mathrm{exp}(n^\alpha)$, then (...
- 4,432
4
votes
2
answers
420
views
Generating a group by randomly sampling generators
Let $G$ be a finite abelian group, $n$ a positive integer and let $G^n$ denote the direct product of $n$ copies of $G$. We say an element of $G^n$ is full if it acts as a nonidentity element of $G$ in ...
- 2,649
4
votes
1
answer
223
views
Existence of disintegrations for improper priors on locally-compact groups
In wide generality, the disintegration theorem says that Radon probability measures admit disintegrations. I'm trying to understand the case when we weaken this to infinite measures, specifically ...
- 8,512
4
votes
0
answers
266
views
Metrics on finite groups and generalizations of central limit theorems for balls volumes (à la Diaconis-Graham)
In wonderful lectures by P. Diaconis "Group representations in probability and statistics, Chapter 6. Metrics on Groups, and Their Statistical Use" metrics on permutation groups are considered and ...
- 24.9k
4
votes
0
answers
177
views
Is there any probabilistic characterization for generalized solvable groups?
References: This question is inspired by a conjecture of Alon Amit that is solved by Miklós Abért, Nikolay Nikolov and Dan Segal in the following papers:
(1) On the probability of satisfying a word in ...
user82740
3
votes
1
answer
3k
views
variance of the number of fixed points for a permutation group
It is reasonably well-known that the variance of the number of fixed points for $S_n$ equals $1.$ Now, what about other transitive permutation groups on $\{1, \dotsc, n\}?$ Presumably much is known. I ...
- 96.4k
3
votes
1
answer
539
views
Probability of generating the symmetric group
The statement is simple:
What is the probability that a set of n-1 transpositions generates the symmetric group, $S_n$?
The motivation is that I remembered reading that this was an open problem ...
- 543
3
votes
1
answer
693
views
Size of automorphism group of random regular graph
If I pick a random regular graph on $n$-vertices and degree $d$ from uniform distribution what is the probability that its automorphism group is of size at least $m$?
--
I want to know what is the ...
- 13.9k
3
votes
1
answer
324
views
A stronger version of supramenability?
A group $G$ is supramenable iff for all $\varnothing\ne A\subseteq G$ there is a finitely-additive left-$G$-invariant measure $\mu_A$ on $G$ with $\mu_A(A)=1$. I'm interested in a seemingly stronger ...
- 2,555
3
votes
1
answer
263
views
Extending Tarski's Theorem on invariant measures
Tarski's Theorem says that if $G$ acts on $X$ and $E$ is a non-$G$-paradoxical subset of $X$, then there is a finitely additive $G$-invariant measure $\mu:2^X\to[0,\infty]$ with $\mu(E)=1$.
I am ...
- 2,555
3
votes
0
answers
153
views
Metropolis-Hastings sampling as a group action
Suppose that you have a topological space $\Omega \subset \mathbb R^n$ accompanied a measure $\mu$ and you're running an iterative sampling algorithm like Metropolis-Hastings. To sample you choose a ...
2
votes
9
answers
2k
views
Examples of amenable groups other than finite groups
I'm reading about amenable groups. What are explicit examples of nonabelian discrete amenable groups other than finite groups? Perhaps a group presentation or matrix representation would be useful.
2
votes
2
answers
381
views
Speed and absence of non-constant bounded harmonic functions
For a (symmetric) random walks on countable groups generated by $\mu$, there is a "brute-force computation" argument of Avez (1974) that shows that if the entropy $h_\mu$ is trivial then there are no ...
- 4,432
2
votes
1
answer
244
views
Markov property for groups?
My question again refers to the following article:
Koji Fujiwara, Zlil Sela, The rates of growth in a hyperbolic group, Invent. math. 233 (2023) pp 1427–1470, doi:10.1007/s00222-023-01200-w, arXiv:...
- 309
2
votes
2
answers
389
views
Who is the weak* sequential closure of the set of finitely supported measures on the integers?
Let $X$ be a topological space and $Y\subseteq X$, the sequential closure of $Y$ is the set of elements in $X$ that are limit of sequences belonging to $Y$.
Let $\mathcal M_{\text{fin}}(\mathbb Z)$ ...
- 6,034
2
votes
1
answer
261
views
Does the set of automorphisms of a cyclic group exhibit some sense of randomness?
I prefer to proceed with a concrete example if I may. I appreciate that the answer might well be better explained with group theory, geometry and/or notions from probability theory, which I welcome.
...
- 2,480
2
votes
1
answer
173
views
Proving that a closed walk of some odd length k exists on a Cayley graph
I'm trying to prove the following:
Let $G$ be a group with finite symmetric generating set $S$ and let $\Gamma(G,S)$ be the corresponding Cayley graph. Let $X_1, X_2,\cdots$ be a simple random walk ...
- 179
2
votes
1
answer
141
views
Spanning subgaph with trivial Poisson boundaries
Assume $\Gamma$ is the Cayley graph of an amenable$^{*}$ group and that the simple random walk has non-trivial Poisson boundary$^{**}$. Is there a spanning connected subgraph $\Gamma'$ of some $k$-...
- 4,432
2
votes
1
answer
337
views
Genericity of sets without unique mean value
Following Rosenblatt and Yang, I say that a subset $A$ of $\mathbb Z$ has a unique mean value if for all invariant means $\lambda_1,\lambda_2$ on $\mathbb Z$, one has $\lambda_1(A)=\lambda_2(A)$.
...
- 6,034
2
votes
0
answers
100
views
Distributions of random walks on boundaries of balls in hyperbolic metric spaces
Suppose $G$ is a finitely-generated non-elementary hyperbolic group and consider a symmetric random walk on the Cayley graph $\text{Cay}(G,S)$ with generating set $S$. Denote the set of points $B_{\...
- 21
2
votes
1
answer
150
views
Can we find background noise for every Følner sequence in a countable amenable group?
Let $G$ be a countable amenable group. We consider sequences $(z_g)_{g\in G}$ of complex numbers with $|z_g|=1$ for all $g\in G$.
I will say $(z_g)_{g\in G}$ is background noise for a (left-)Følner ...
- 10.6k
2
votes
0
answers
138
views
Update on Viskov's paper on random processes, Lagrange inversion, and the Heisenberg–Weyl algebra
"A Random Walk with a Skip-Free Component and the Lagrange Inversion Formula" by Viskov presents connections among Lagrange inversion and measures of random Lévy processes. The freely ...
- 10.5k
2
votes
0
answers
110
views
Moment of the hitting measure of a subgroup
Given a [finitely generated] group $G$ and a finite generating set $S$, a measure $\mu$ will have finite $\alpha$-moment if $\sum_{g \in G} \mu(g) |g|_S^\alpha$ is finite (where $|g|_S$ is the word ...
- 4,432
2
votes
0
answers
89
views
Name for a probability density ''symmetrized'' by a permutation group?
Let $p$ be a probability density function over random variable $X$, and $G$ a compact permutation group over the outcomes of $X$. For each $g\in G$, let $p_g$ indicate the probability density ...
- 695
2
votes
0
answers
202
views
Random walk on a finite group, converging modulo a function
Let $G$ be a finite group, and let $Q$ be a probability measure on $G$. Suppose that $Q$, as a function on $G$, is supported on a conjugacy class $C$. We denote by $Q^{*k}$ the $k$-fold convolution of ...
- 14.6k
2
votes
0
answers
88
views
Example of action of an infinitely countable group that has important ergodic/statistical property?
I work in probability and I am looking for an important example of action of an amenable countable group in other areas of math for which the (pointwise) ergodic theorem is actually quite important. ...
- 21
2
votes
0
answers
153
views
Reference request for a result on subsets unlikely to be hit by random walks in a group
Suppose we are performing a random walk in a group. More precisely, we have a finite generating set $S$ of a group $G$ and the probability of walking along generator $s$ is given by $\mu(s)$ for some ...
- 21
1
vote
2
answers
635
views
Mean value theorems for the Haar integral?
Let $G$ be a compact topological group (feel free to add hypotheses if necessary). Is there any mean value theorem for its (normalized to 1) Haar integral?
In general, are there mean value theorems ...
- 5,407
1
vote
1
answer
519
views
How typical are integer isometries on a hypercube? Littlewood-Offord problem for Bernoulli Gram matrices
Let $m\geq 3$ be fixed and $n\to\infty$. Consider $v=(v_j)_{j\leq m}$ with $v_1,\ldots,v_m\in \{-1,+1\}^n$. Let:
$N_I(v)$ be the number of sequences $u_1,\ldots,u_m\in \{-1,+1\}^n$ isometric to $v$ ...
- 175
1
vote
1
answer
578
views
Fundamental inequality of entropy in random walks
I'm looking for a reference for an inequality related to the "fundamental inequality" about entropy and rate of escape of random walks (on the Cayley graph of a group). Namely,
$\textbf{Question}$: ...
- 4,432
1
vote
1
answer
259
views
Amenability with respect to a function
Let $(G,\cdot)$ be a group and $\phi:G\rightarrow\mathbb R$ bounded. Let me say that the pair $(G,\phi)$ is amenable if there is a finitely additive probability measure $\mu$ on $G$ such that for all $...
- 6,034
1
vote
0
answers
177
views
Building random homeomorphisms of the torus $\mathbb T^2$
In https://arxiv.org/abs/0912.3423, a family of random homeomorphisms of the circle is constructed. Main Question: Can the construction be generalized to higher space dimensions, e.g. to $\mathbb T^2$?...
- 101
1
vote
1
answer
185
views
A system of linear equations with way too many unknowns — constructing a bivariate distribution from marginals and "the diagonal"
Suppose we are given information about distributions of random permutations $\sigma, \tau : \Omega \to S_n$ as follows:
$$p^1_{k,l} = \mathbb P(\sigma(k) = l), p^2_{k',l'} = \mathbb P(\tau(k) = l), p^{...
- 677
1
vote
0
answers
489
views
Can we generalize the concept of "characters" in group theory via methods from statistics and probability theory?
$\DeclareMathOperator\Cov{Cov}$Motivation: If $G$ is a finite group and $\phi=X+iY: G\to \mathbb{T}$ is a character of $G$, then $\Cov(X,Y)=0$ where $X$, $Y$ are considered as two real random ...
- 356
1
vote
0
answers
340
views
Random walk on non-abelian free group
Let $F_2$ be the free non-abelian group with generators $a, b\in F_2$.
Has the "random walk" where we start with the identity and then multiply it by $a$ or $b$ or $a^{-1}$ or $b^{-1}$ ...
- 11
1
vote
0
answers
311
views
Show that $\mathrm{SL}_2(\mathbb{F}_p)$ is quasi-random
Terry Tao gives this oblique definition of quasirandom group in his notes 3
$G$ is quasi-random (of order $D$) if all non-trivial unitary representations $\rho: G \to U(H)$ have dimension at least $...
- 22.8k
0
votes
3
answers
293
views
How can we pave the multiplicative semigroup $(\mathbb N,\cdot)$?
Let $(S,\cdot)$ be a semigroup and $W\subseteq S$ be a subset. Let me call $W$ "tile" if the following property is satisfied: there exist $s_1,...s_k\in S$ such that the sets $s_i\cdot W$ are pairwise ...
- 6,034
0
votes
1
answer
153
views
Probability distribution of random products of elements of a generating set of a finite non-abelian group
Let $G$ be a finite non-abelian group, and consider a choice of $N$ distinct elements $g_{0},g_{1},\ldots,g_{N-1}\in G$ that generate $G$. Now, let $t$ be an arbitrary positive integer, and let $d_{1},...
- 1,284