Bayesian Nonparametric Inference in Elliptic PDEs: Convergence Rates and Implementation

Parameter identification problems in partial differential equations (PDEs) consist in determining one or more functional coefficient in a PDE. In this article, the Bayesian nonparametric approach to such problems is considered. Focusing on the representative example of inferring the diffusivity func...

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Main Author: Matteo Giordano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Foundations
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9321/5/2/14
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author Matteo Giordano
author_facet Matteo Giordano
author_sort Matteo Giordano
collection DOAJ
description Parameter identification problems in partial differential equations (PDEs) consist in determining one or more functional coefficient in a PDE. In this article, the Bayesian nonparametric approach to such problems is considered. Focusing on the representative example of inferring the diffusivity function in an elliptic PDE from noisy observations of the PDE solution, the performance of Bayesian procedures based on Gaussian process priors is investigated. Building on recent developments in the literature, we derive novel asymptotic theoretical guarantees that establish posterior consistency and convergence rates for methodologically attractive Gaussian series priors based on the Dirichlet–Laplacian eigenbasis. An implementation of the associated posterior-based inference is provided and illustrated via a numerical simulation study, where excellent agreement with the theory is obtained.
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spelling doaj-art-97b9f3d1402745b7b4c5e3b26a6a414d2025-08-20T03:27:17ZengMDPI AGFoundations2673-93212025-04-01521410.3390/foundations5020014Bayesian Nonparametric Inference in Elliptic PDEs: Convergence Rates and ImplementationMatteo Giordano0ESOMAS Department, University of Turin, Corso Unione Sovietica 218/bis, 10137 Turin, ItalyParameter identification problems in partial differential equations (PDEs) consist in determining one or more functional coefficient in a PDE. In this article, the Bayesian nonparametric approach to such problems is considered. Focusing on the representative example of inferring the diffusivity function in an elliptic PDE from noisy observations of the PDE solution, the performance of Bayesian procedures based on Gaussian process priors is investigated. Building on recent developments in the literature, we derive novel asymptotic theoretical guarantees that establish posterior consistency and convergence rates for methodologically attractive Gaussian series priors based on the Dirichlet–Laplacian eigenbasis. An implementation of the associated posterior-based inference is provided and illustrated via a numerical simulation study, where excellent agreement with the theory is obtained.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9321/5/2/14inverse problemsGaussian priorsfrequentist consistencyposterior meanMarkov chain Monte Carlo
spellingShingle Matteo Giordano
Bayesian Nonparametric Inference in Elliptic PDEs: Convergence Rates and Implementation
Foundations
inverse problems
Gaussian priors
frequentist consistency
posterior mean
Markov chain Monte Carlo
title Bayesian Nonparametric Inference in Elliptic PDEs: Convergence Rates and Implementation
title_full Bayesian Nonparametric Inference in Elliptic PDEs: Convergence Rates and Implementation
title_fullStr Bayesian Nonparametric Inference in Elliptic PDEs: Convergence Rates and Implementation
title_full_unstemmed Bayesian Nonparametric Inference in Elliptic PDEs: Convergence Rates and Implementation
title_short Bayesian Nonparametric Inference in Elliptic PDEs: Convergence Rates and Implementation
title_sort bayesian nonparametric inference in elliptic pdes convergence rates and implementation
topic inverse problems
Gaussian priors
frequentist consistency
posterior mean
Markov chain Monte Carlo
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9321/5/2/14
work_keys_str_mv AT matteogiordano bayesiannonparametricinferenceinellipticpdesconvergenceratesandimplementation