Conformal Flattening for Deformed Information Geometries on the Probability Simplex †

• Main Author: Atsumi Ohara
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-03-01
• Series: Entropy
• Subjects: representing functions; affine immersion; nonextensive statistical physics; invariance; dually flat structure; Legendre conjugate; gradient flow
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/20/3/186

Recent progress of theories and applications regarding statistical models with generalized exponential functions in statistical science is giving an impact on the movement to deform the standard structure of information geometry. For this purpose, various representing functions are playing central roles. In this paper, we consider two important notions in information geometry, i.e., invariance and dual flatness, from a viewpoint of representing functions. We first characterize a pair of representing functions that realizes the invariant geometry by solving a system of ordinary differential equations. Next, by proposing a new transformation technique, i.e., conformal flattening, we construct dually flat geometries from a certain class of non-flat geometries. Finally, we apply the results to demonstrate several properties of gradient flows on the probability simplex.