Algorithm to extract direction in 2D discrete distributions and a continuous Frobenius norm

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Yepez, Jeffrey G., Seligman, Jackson D., Dornfest, Max A. A., Crow, Brian C., Learned, John G., Li, Viacheslav A.
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2025
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author Yepez, Jeffrey G.
Seligman, Jackson D.
Dornfest, Max A. A.
Crow, Brian C.
Learned, John G.
Li, Viacheslav A.
author_facet Yepez, Jeffrey G.
Seligman, Jackson D.
Dornfest, Max A. A.
Crow, Brian C.
Learned, John G.
Li, Viacheslav A.
contents In this study, we present a novel algorithm for determining directionality in 2D distributions of discrete data. We compare a reference dataset with a known direction to a measured dataset with an unknown direction by the Frobenius norm of the difference (FND) to find the unknown direction. To generalize this concept, we develop a continuous Frobenius norm of the difference (CFND) as a continuous analog of the FND and derive its analytical expression. By relating fitted and normalized 2D Gaussian distributions, we show that the CFND approximates the FND, and we validate this relationship with computer simulations. We find that a first-order approximation of the CFND between two similar Gaussian distributions takes the form of an absolute sine function, offering a simple analytical form with potential for specialized applications in segmented inverse beta decay (IBD) neutrino detectors, astronomy, machine learning, and more. Although this method may easily extend to 3D scalar fields, our focus here is on 2D real-valued fields as it directly applies to directionality. Our methodology consists of modeling a 2D Gaussian distribution, binning the data into a histogram, and encoding it as a square matrix. Rotating this matrix around its geometric center and comparing it to a measured dataset using the FND gives us rotational data that we fit with an absolute sine function. The location of the minimum of this fit is the angle closest to the true angle of the direction in the measured dataset. We present the derivation and discuss initial applications of the CFND in our novel algorithm, demonstrating its success in approximating directionality in 2D distributions.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_17360
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Algorithm to extract direction in 2D discrete distributions and a continuous Frobenius norm
Yepez, Jeffrey G.
Seligman, Jackson D.
Dornfest, Max A. A.
Crow, Brian C.
Learned, John G.
Li, Viacheslav A.
Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
In this study, we present a novel algorithm for determining directionality in 2D distributions of discrete data. We compare a reference dataset with a known direction to a measured dataset with an unknown direction by the Frobenius norm of the difference (FND) to find the unknown direction. To generalize this concept, we develop a continuous Frobenius norm of the difference (CFND) as a continuous analog of the FND and derive its analytical expression. By relating fitted and normalized 2D Gaussian distributions, we show that the CFND approximates the FND, and we validate this relationship with computer simulations. We find that a first-order approximation of the CFND between two similar Gaussian distributions takes the form of an absolute sine function, offering a simple analytical form with potential for specialized applications in segmented inverse beta decay (IBD) neutrino detectors, astronomy, machine learning, and more. Although this method may easily extend to 3D scalar fields, our focus here is on 2D real-valued fields as it directly applies to directionality. Our methodology consists of modeling a 2D Gaussian distribution, binning the data into a histogram, and encoding it as a square matrix. Rotating this matrix around its geometric center and comparing it to a measured dataset using the FND gives us rotational data that we fit with an absolute sine function. The location of the minimum of this fit is the angle closest to the true angle of the direction in the measured dataset. We present the derivation and discuss initial applications of the CFND in our novel algorithm, demonstrating its success in approximating directionality in 2D distributions.
title Algorithm to extract direction in 2D discrete distributions and a continuous Frobenius norm
topic Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.17360