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Autori principali: Yun, Ho, Zemel, Yoav
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2025
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Accesso online:https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.21464
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author Yun, Ho
Zemel, Yoav
author_facet Yun, Ho
Zemel, Yoav
contents We explore the geometry of the Bures-Wasserstein space for potentially degenerate Gaussian measures on a separable Hilbert space. In this general setting, the optimal transport map is formally the subgradient of a convex function that is infinite almost everywhere, rendering conventional duality-based variational methods ineffective. We overcome this analytical barrier by exploiting a constructive operator-theoretic approach. Our central result proves that the Kantorovich problem for any pair of Gaussian measures reduces to a Monge problem; that is, an optimal transport map exists in at least one direction between two measures. This reduction allows for a complete characterization with explicit formulas for all optimal (potentially unbounded) Monge transport map and Kantorovich couplings, as well as establishing their uniqueness. Furthermore, we provide a full description of the convex set of geodesics between degenerate measures, revealing a rich geometric structure where the classical McCann interpolants arise as the extreme points. We apply these findings to construct transport maps for Gaussian processes and introduce a novel framework for Wasserstein barycenters based on random Green's operators.
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id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2512_21464
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Gaussian Optimal Transport Beyond Brenier's Theorem
Yun, Ho
Zemel, Yoav
Functional Analysis
49Q22 (Primary) 60B11, 47B25, 53C22, 46N30 (Secondary)
We explore the geometry of the Bures-Wasserstein space for potentially degenerate Gaussian measures on a separable Hilbert space. In this general setting, the optimal transport map is formally the subgradient of a convex function that is infinite almost everywhere, rendering conventional duality-based variational methods ineffective. We overcome this analytical barrier by exploiting a constructive operator-theoretic approach. Our central result proves that the Kantorovich problem for any pair of Gaussian measures reduces to a Monge problem; that is, an optimal transport map exists in at least one direction between two measures. This reduction allows for a complete characterization with explicit formulas for all optimal (potentially unbounded) Monge transport map and Kantorovich couplings, as well as establishing their uniqueness. Furthermore, we provide a full description of the convex set of geodesics between degenerate measures, revealing a rich geometric structure where the classical McCann interpolants arise as the extreme points. We apply these findings to construct transport maps for Gaussian processes and introduce a novel framework for Wasserstein barycenters based on random Green's operators.
title Gaussian Optimal Transport Beyond Brenier's Theorem
topic Functional Analysis
49Q22 (Primary) 60B11, 47B25, 53C22, 46N30 (Secondary)
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.21464