Introduction to the non-asymptotic analysis of random matrices

The classical random matrix theory is mostly focused on asymptotic spectral properties of random matrices as their dimensions grow to infinity. At the same time many recent applications from convex geometry to functional analysis to information theory operate with random matrices in fixed dimensions. This survey addresses the non-asymptotic theory of extreme singular values of random matrices with independent entries. We focus on recently developed geometric methods for estim...

Non-asymptotic theory of random matrices strives to investigate the spectral properties of random matrices, which are valid with high probability for matrices of a large fixed size. Results obtained in this framework find their applications in high-dimensional convexity, analysis of convergence of algorithms, as well as in random matrix theory itself. In these notes we survey some recent results in this area and describe the techniques aimed for obtaining explicit probability...

The problem of estimating the smallest singular value of random square matrices is important in connection with matrix computations and analysis of the spectral distribution. In this survey, we consider recent developments in the study of quantitative invertibility in the non-Hermitian setting, and review some applications of this line of research.

For a long time, detection and parameter estimation methods for signal processing have relied on asymptotic statistics as the number $n$ of observations of a population grows large comparatively to the population size $N$, i.e. $n/N\to \infty$. Modern technological and societal advances now demand the study of sometimes extremely large populations and simultaneously require fast signal processing due to accelerated system dynamics. This results in not-so-large practical ratio...

We discuss applications of some concepts of Compressed Sensing in the recent work on invertibility of random matrices due to Rudelson and the author. We sketch an argument leading to the optimal bound N^{-1/2} on the median of the smallest singular value of an N by N matrix with random independent entries. We highlight the parts of the argument where sparsity ideas played a key role.

These are lectures notes for a 4h30 mini-course held in Ulaanbaatar, National University of Mongolia, August 5-7th 2015, at the summer school "Stochastic Processes and Applications". It aims at presenting an introduction to basic results of random matrix theory and some of its motivations, targeted to a large panel of students coming from statistics, finance, etc. Only a small background in probability is required.

Consider a standard white Wishart matrix with parameters $n$ and $p$. Motivated by applications in high-dimensional statistics and signal processing, we perform asymptotic analysis on the maxima and minima of the eigenvalues of all the $m \times m$ principal minors, under the asymptotic regime that $n,p,m$ go to infinity. Asymptotic results concerning extreme eigenvalues of principal minors of real Wigner matrices are also obtained. In addition, we discuss an application of t...

Brief lecture notes for a course about random matrices given at the University of Cambridge.

In recent years, random matrices have come to play a major role in computational mathematics, but most of the classical areas of random matrix theory remain the province of experts. Over the last decade, with the advent of matrix concentration inequalities, research has advanced to the point where we can conquer many (formerly) challenging problems with a page or two of arithmetic. The aim of this monograph is to describe the most successful methods from this area along with ...

The aim of this note (as well as of the course itself) is to give a largely self-contained proof of two of the main results in the field of low-rank matrix recovery. This field aims for identification of low-rank matrices from only limited linear information exploiting in a crucial way their very special structure. As a crucial tool we develop also the basic statements of the theory of random matrices. The notes are based on a number of sources, which appeared in the last f...