The logarithmic Sobolev constant is always bounded above by half the spectral gap. It is natural to ask when this inequality is an equality. We consider this question in the context of reversible Markov chains on small finite state spaces. In particular, we prove that equality holds for simple random walk on the five cycle and we discuss assorted families of chains on three and four points.
La constante de Sobolev logarithmic est toujours inférieure ou égale à la moitié du trou spectral. Il est naturel de se demander dans quels cas l’égalité à lieu. Nous considérons cette question dans le cadre des chaînes de Markov sur un espace fini de petite taille. En particulier, nous montrons l’égalité pour la marche aléatoire simple sur un cycle fini de 5 points et discutons plusieurs familles de chaînes sur 3 et 4 points.
@article{AFST_2008_6_17_2_239_0, author = {Chen, Guan-Yu and Liu, Wai-Wai and Saloff-Coste, Laurent}, title = {The logarithmic {Sobolev} constant of some finite {Markov} chains}, journal = {Annales de la Facult\'e des sciences de Toulouse : Math\'ematiques}, pages = {239--290}, publisher = {Universit\'e Paul Sabatier, Institut de math\'ematiques}, address = {Toulouse}, volume = {Ser. 6, 17}, number = {2}, year = {2008}, doi = {10.5802/afst.1183}, zbl = {1163.60319}, mrnumber = {2487855}, language = {en}, url = {http://www.numdam.org/articles/10.5802/afst.1183/} }
TY - JOUR AU - Chen, Guan-Yu AU - Liu, Wai-Wai AU - Saloff-Coste, Laurent TI - The logarithmic Sobolev constant of some finite Markov chains JO - Annales de la Faculté des sciences de Toulouse : Mathématiques PY - 2008 SP - 239 EP - 290 VL - 17 IS - 2 PB - Université Paul Sabatier, Institut de mathématiques PP - Toulouse UR - http://www.numdam.org/articles/10.5802/afst.1183/ DO - 10.5802/afst.1183 LA - en ID - AFST_2008_6_17_2_239_0 ER -
%0 Journal Article %A Chen, Guan-Yu %A Liu, Wai-Wai %A Saloff-Coste, Laurent %T The logarithmic Sobolev constant of some finite Markov chains %J Annales de la Faculté des sciences de Toulouse : Mathématiques %D 2008 %P 239-290 %V 17 %N 2 %I Université Paul Sabatier, Institut de mathématiques %C Toulouse %U http://www.numdam.org/articles/10.5802/afst.1183/ %R 10.5802/afst.1183 %G en %F AFST_2008_6_17_2_239_0
Chen, Guan-Yu; Liu, Wai-Wai; Saloff-Coste, Laurent. The logarithmic Sobolev constant of some finite Markov chains. Annales de la Faculté des sciences de Toulouse : Mathématiques, Serie 6, Volume 17 (2008) no. 2, pp. 239-290. doi : 10.5802/afst.1183. http://www.numdam.org/articles/10.5802/afst.1183/
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