On the topology of solutions to random continuous constraint satisfaction problems
We consider the set of solutions to $M$ random polynomial equations whose $N$ variables are restricted to the $(N-1)$-sphere. Each equation has independent Gaussian coefficients and a target value $V_0$. When solutions exist, they form a manifold. We compute the average Euler characteristic of this...
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2025-05-01
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| Series: | SciPost Physics |
| Online Access: | https://scipost.org/SciPostPhys.18.5.158 |
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| author | Jaron Kent-Dobias |
| author_facet | Jaron Kent-Dobias |
| author_sort | Jaron Kent-Dobias |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We consider the set of solutions to $M$ random polynomial equations whose $N$ variables are restricted to the $(N-1)$-sphere. Each equation has independent Gaussian coefficients and a target value $V_0$. When solutions exist, they form a manifold. We compute the average Euler characteristic of this manifold in the limit of large $N$, and find different behavior depending on the target value $V_0$, the ratio $\alpha=M/N$, and the variances of the coefficients. We divide this behavior into five phases with different implications for the topology of the solution manifold. When $M=1$ there is a correspondence between this problem and level sets of the energy in the spherical spin glasses. We conjecture that the transition energy dividing two of the topological phases corresponds to the energy asymptotically reached by gradient descent from a random initial condition, possibly resolving an open problem in out-of-equilibrium dynamics. However, the quality of the available data leaves the question open for now. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-edac1accb2cc4cf991ad35eee820efc4 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2542-4653 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | SciPost |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SciPost Physics |
| spelling | doaj-art-edac1accb2cc4cf991ad35eee820efc42025-08-20T03:10:01ZengSciPostSciPost Physics2542-46532025-05-0118515810.21468/SciPostPhys.18.5.158On the topology of solutions to random continuous constraint satisfaction problemsJaron Kent-DobiasWe consider the set of solutions to $M$ random polynomial equations whose $N$ variables are restricted to the $(N-1)$-sphere. Each equation has independent Gaussian coefficients and a target value $V_0$. When solutions exist, they form a manifold. We compute the average Euler characteristic of this manifold in the limit of large $N$, and find different behavior depending on the target value $V_0$, the ratio $\alpha=M/N$, and the variances of the coefficients. We divide this behavior into five phases with different implications for the topology of the solution manifold. When $M=1$ there is a correspondence between this problem and level sets of the energy in the spherical spin glasses. We conjecture that the transition energy dividing two of the topological phases corresponds to the energy asymptotically reached by gradient descent from a random initial condition, possibly resolving an open problem in out-of-equilibrium dynamics. However, the quality of the available data leaves the question open for now.https://scipost.org/SciPostPhys.18.5.158 |
| spellingShingle | Jaron Kent-Dobias On the topology of solutions to random continuous constraint satisfaction problems SciPost Physics |
| title | On the topology of solutions to random continuous constraint satisfaction problems |
| title_full | On the topology of solutions to random continuous constraint satisfaction problems |
| title_fullStr | On the topology of solutions to random continuous constraint satisfaction problems |
| title_full_unstemmed | On the topology of solutions to random continuous constraint satisfaction problems |
| title_short | On the topology of solutions to random continuous constraint satisfaction problems |
| title_sort | on the topology of solutions to random continuous constraint satisfaction problems |
| url | https://scipost.org/SciPostPhys.18.5.158 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jaronkentdobias onthetopologyofsolutionstorandomcontinuousconstraintsatisfactionproblems |