Published January 18, 2008 | Version v1
Journal article

Density of critical points for a Gaussian random function

  • 1. Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Bunsenstr. 10, 37073 Goettingen (Germany)

Description

Critical points of a scalar quantitiy are either extremal points or saddle points. The character of the critical points is determined by the sign distribution of the eigenvalues of the Hessian matrix. For a two-dimensional homogeneous and isotropic random function, topological arguments are sufficient to show that all possible sign combinations are equidistributed or with other words, the density of the saddle points and extrema agree. This argument breaks down in three dimensions. All ratios of the densities of saddle points and extrema larger than one are possible. For a homogeneous Gaussian random field one finds no longer an equidistribution of signs, saddle points are slightly more frequent

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1088/1751-8113/41/2/025210;
PII
S1751-8113(08)58868-8;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Journal of Physics. A, Mathematical and Theoretical (Online)
Journal Volume
41
Journal Issue
2
Journal Page Range
p. 025210
ISSN
1751-8121

INIS

Country of Publication
United Kingdom
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
39028640
Subject category
S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
Descriptors DEI
DENSITY; DISTRIBUTION; EIGENVALUES; FUNCTIONS; MATRICES; RANDOMNESS; TOPOLOGY; TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
Descriptors DEC
MATHEMATICS; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES