Benjamin Arras

Bio: Benjamin Arras is an academic researcher from École Centrale Paris. The author has contributed to research in topics: Stein's method & Probability measure. The author has an hindex of 10, co-authored 24 publications receiving 233 citations. Previous affiliations of Benjamin Arras include University of Liège & Pierre-and-Marie-Curie University.

On Stein's Method for Infinitely Divisible Laws with Finite First Moment

Abstract: We present, in a unified way, a Stein methodology for infinitely divisible laws (without Gaussian component) having finite first moment.

A new approach to the Stein-Tikhomirov method: with applications to the second Wiener chaos and Dickman convergence

Abstract: In this paper, we propose a general means of estimating the rate at which convergences in law occur. Our approach, which is an extension of the classical Stein-Tikhomirov method, rests on a new pair of linear operators acting on characteristic functions. In principle, this method is admissible for any approximating sequence and any target, although obviously the conjunction of several favorable factors is necessary in order for the resulting bounds to be of interest. As we briefly discuss, our approach is particularly promising whenever some version of Stein's method applies. We apply our approach to two examples. The first application concerns convergence in law towards targets $F_\infty$ which belong to the second Wiener chaos (i.e. $F_{\infty}$ is a linear combination of independent centered chi-squared rvs). We detail an application to $U$-statistics. The second application concerns convergence towards targets belonging to the generalized Dickman family of distributions. We detail an application to a theorem from number theory. In both cases our method produces bounds of the correct order (up to a logarithmic loss) in terms of quantities which occur naturally in Stein's method.

Sequential Sampling for Optimal Weighted Least Squares Approximations in Hierarchical Spaces

Abstract: We consider the problem of approximating an unknown function $u\in L^2(D,\rho)$ from its evaluations at given sampling points $x^1,\dots,x^n\in D$, where $D\subset\mathbb{R}^d$ is a general domain ...

Stein characterizations for linear combinations of gamma random variables

Abstract: In this paper we propose a new, simple and explicit mechanism allowing to derive Stein operators for random variables whose characteristic function satisfies a simple ODE. We apply this to study random variables which can be represented as linear combinations of (non necessarily independent) gamma distributed random variables. The connection with Malliavin calculus for random variables in the second Wiener chaos is detailed. An application to McKay Type I random variables is also outlined.

Lévy processes and infinitely divisible distributions

Abstract: Preface to the revised edition Remarks on notation 1. Basic examples 2. Characterization and existence 3. Stable processes and their extensions 4. The Levy-Ito decomposition of sample functions 5. Distributional properties of Levy processes 6. Subordination and density transformation 7. Recurrence and transience 8. Potential theory for Levy processes 9. Wiener-Hopf factorizations 10. More distributional properties Supplement Solutions to exercises References and author index Subject index.

Randomized numerical linear algebra: Foundations and algorithms

Abstract: This survey describes probabilistic algorithms for linear algebraic computations, such as factorizing matrices and solving linear systems. It focuses on techniques that have a proven track record for real-world problems. The paper treats both the theoretical foundations of the subject and practical computational issues. Topics include norm estimation, matrix approximation by sampling, structured and unstructured random embeddings, linear regression problems, low-rank approximation, subspace iteration and Krylov methods, error estimation and adaptivity, interpolatory and CUR factorizations, Nystrom approximation of positive semidefinite matrices, single-view (‘streaming’) algorithms, full rank-revealing factorizations, solvers for linear systems, and approximation of kernel matrices that arise in machine learning and in scientific computing.