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arXiv2026

New Upper bounds on the Mondrian Art Problem

We present a new upper bound on the defect of the Mondrian Art Problem. The Mondrian Art Problem asks for a partition of an $n \times n$ square with rectangles of distinct dimensions such that the difference (defect) between the largest and smallest rectangle areas is minimized. We prove that for any $n \times n$ square, there exists a partition with defect $O(n^{5/6})$, improving upon the previously conjectured $O (n/\log n)$ upper bound. We also implement an algorithm that provides empirical evidence supporting our theoretical bound.

math.CO↗

arXiv2026

Windowed thinning and query complexity for the bouncy particle and Zigzag samplers

Let $μ(d x)\propto e^{-U(x)} d x$ on $\R^d$, where $U$ is $m$-strongly convex and $L$-smooth, and denote by $κ=L/m$ the condition number. We consider windowed thinning, an exact simulation method for the bouncy particle sampler and the coordinate Zigzag process. The method divides a trajectory into deterministic windows and uses a gradient evaluation at the beginning of each window to construct a tractable local envelope for the event rate. Combining this construction with quantitative mixing estimates and finite-time bounds on the expected numbers of bounces and flips yields query complexity guarantees from a Gaussian cold start. For total-variation error $\varepsilon$, the expected query counts are $O(κ^{1/2}d\,(d\logκ+\log\frac1\varepsilon))$ gradient queries for the bouncy particle sampler and $O(κd^{1/4}(d\logκ+\log\frac1\varepsilon))$ full-gradient equivalents for Zigzag, where $d$ coordinate-partial queries count as one equivalent.

math.NA↗

arXiv2026

Eleven, twelve, and thirteen lonely runners

Wills conjectured that, for any non-zero integers $u_1,\ldots,u_k$, there is a real number $t$ such that, for all $i=1,\ldots,k$, \[\lVert tu_i\rVert\geq\frac{1}{k+1},\] where $\lVert x\rVert$ is the distance from $x$ to the closest integer. This statement is known as the Lonely Runner Conjecture. A computational method developed by Rosenfeld and the second author verified the conjecture for $k\leq9$. We further refine this method with new sieving techniques and employ a polynomial method argument to show that any $(u_1,\ldots,u_k)\equiv(1,2,\ldots,k)\pmod{p}$ with $\gcd(u_1,\ldots,u_k)=1$ satisfies the conjecture when $k+1$ and $p > k^2+k$ are both odd primes. Ultimately, we provide a computer-assisted proof of the Lonely Runner Conjecture for $k\in\{10,11,12\}$.

math.CO↗

arXiv2026

Asymptotic Bounds on Generalized Covering Radii of Binary Primitive BCH Codes

Fix integers $e\ge2$ and $r\ge1$. In this paper we study the $r$-th generalized covering radius $ρ_r\left(BCH(e,m)\right)$ of the binary primitive $e$-error-correcting BCH code $BCH(e,m)$. By using an algebraic-geometric reformulation of the covering problem together with an explicit Lang-Weil estimate, we prove that \[ρ_r\bigl(\BCH(e,m)\bigr)\le(r+1)e-1\] for all sufficiently large $m$. For $e\ge7$, this improves a recent result of Belinsky--Zabokritskiy. Our proof gives a substantially simpler geometric approach to this upper bound. In particular it implies that \[ρ_2\bigl(BCH(e,m)\bigr)=3e-1\] for all sufficiently large $m$. Previously it was only known that \[ρ_2\bigl(\BCH(e,m)\bigr) \in \left\{3e-1,3e\right\}\] for all sufficiently large $m$.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2026

Embracing exchange sequences and oriented matroid polyhedron diameter

We reduce the embracing exchange distance of bases of oriented matroids to the metric of oriented matroid polyhedra. This allows us to disprove recent conjectures of Caoduro, Khodamoradi, Paat, and Shepherd and of Bérczi and Nádor. On the other hand, we show that any two embracing bases of an oriented matroid of rank $r$ can be transformed into each other in at most $2r^{\log_2(r)+3}$ steps and in at most $r$ steps in a graphic oriented matroid or a Lawrence oriented matroid, thus confirming the conjecture in these cases.

math.CO↗

arXiv2026

Discrepancy of geometric incidences

We study the combinatorial (red-blue) discrepancy of finite point sets with respect to hyperplanes and, more generally, bounded-complexity affine algebraic sets. We prove that every $n$-point set in a real Euclidean space admits a red-blue coloring for which every affine algebraic set of dimension at most $D$ and degree at most $k$ has discrepancy at most $n^{\frac12-\frac{1}{2(D+1)}-\varepsilon}$ for some $\varepsilon=\varepsilon(D,k)>0$. This gives a polynomial improvement over the straightforward VC-dimension bound $\tilde O(n^{\frac12-\frac{1}{2(D+1)}})$. In the opposite direction, we construct $n$-point sets in $\mathbb R^d$ whose discrepancy with respect to hyperplanes is $\tildeΩ(n^{\frac12-\frac{1}{d+1}}),$ extending the point-line discrepancy lower bound of Chazelle and Lvov. We present further applications of our methods in communication complexity, concerning separation between randomized communication cost and deterministic communication cost with access to equality oracle.

math.CO↗

arXiv2026

ISAC with Co-Prime Arrays: Virtual-Aperture Sensing and uplink downlink communications

Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) enables simultaneous communication and environmental sensing in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) networks, but its performance is constrained by the physical antenna aperture and residual self-interference (SI) in full-duplex (FD) sensing. To address these issues, we propose a shared-aperture ISAC architecture in which a sparse co-prime array (CPA) is embedded in a uniform linear array (ULA) grid for FD sensing, while the remaining antenna positions support time-division duplexing (TDD) communication. We characterize the sensing performance through an order-wise Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) analysis, showing that the CPA achieves a stronger asymptotic sensing gain than the partitioned ULA benchmark in both single-target and nondegenerate multi-target scenarios. We further reveal a space-time sampling tradeoff under the same physical aperture. Based on the proposed architecture, we formulate a non-convex joint resource allocation problem that maximizes the weighted downlink-uplink sum rate by jointly designing the sensing transmit covariance, downlink precoder, and uplink receive beamformers under sensing accuracy, BS transmit-power, communication QoS, and residual SI constraints. An alternating-optimization-based algorithm is developed. Simulations demonstrate consistent performance gains over the considered baselines and confirm the complementary benefits of the CPA virtual aperture and sensing covariance optimization.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2026

Comments on the recent improvements of the MRRW bounds

The asymptotic McEliece--Rodemich--Rumsey--Welch bound (1977) limits the largest attainable rate of binary codes as a function of the relative distance. After a nearly half-century hiatus, this result was recently improved in two concurrent works, by OpenAI and by O. Alrabiah and V. Guruswami. The two arguments look entirely different, a Delsarte certificate on the one hand, a classical-quantum channel and the pretty good measurement on the other, and they yield the same bound. The purpose of this note is to explain why: in both proofs, a subspace is attached to every codeword and moved with it, and the bound counts how many such subspaces fit in the ambient space, exactly in the first case and in the probabilistic sense of typicality in the second. We also present the OpenAI proof in the language and context of coding theory, as an extension of the spectral method in which the single vector attached to a codeword is replaced by a subspace.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2026

Entropy lower bounds and sum-product phenomena

Various lower bounds are established for the entropy of sums, products and their combinations. First, we derive a prime-field analogue of a version of the entropy power inequality established by Tao over torsion-free groups. Next, we prove an entropy sum-product statement: For independent and identically distributed random variables $X,X'$, the maximum of ${\bf H}(X+X')$ and ${\bf H}(XX')$ is bounded below by a linear combination of the entropy and the min-entropy (Rényi entropy of order~$\infty$) of $X$. This result, obtained by bounding entropies of the form ${\bf H}\bigl( X(Y+Z)\bigr)$ from above and below, is valid over arbitrary fields $F$. Over $F={\bf R}$, a slightly stronger inequality is derived. Finally, a weak version of a purely Shannon-entropic sum-product result is developed: If the entropic additive doubling of a random variable $X$ over an arbitrary field is $O(1)$, then its multiplicative doubling is at least proportional to ${\bf H}(X)$.

math.CO↗

arXiv2026

On two proofs of $d^2$ mixing of weighted Dikin walks

We study the mixing time of weighted Dikin walks for sampling from exponential distributions on polytopes and truncated positive-semidefinite (PSD) cones. Our first result gives a general total-variation mixing bound under strong self-concordance, $\barν$-symmetry, and mixed-trace regularity on the local metric. The key idea is to control the Metropolis--Hastings acceptance probability on a high-probability region rather than at every point. Applying this framework to the Lee--Sidford, Lewis-weight, and John metrics yields an $\widetilde O(d^2)$ mixing bound for sampling from polytopes, while applying it to a hybrid barrier yields an $\widetilde O(d^4)$ mixing bound for sampling from truncated PSD cones. Our second result establishes stronger $χ^2$-divergence guarantees and pointwise acceptance control using a new fourth-order bootstrap condition. For a suitably scaled Lee--Sidford metric, this yields an $\widetilde O(d^2)$ mixing bound in $χ^2$-divergence, improving on the previous $\widetilde O(d^{9/4})$ bound.

cs.DS↗

arXiv2026

Exponential random graph models with soft clique constraints

Let $r\geq3$ be fixed, and let $\mathbf{G}_n$ be the set of all simple graphs with vertex set $[n]=\{1,\ldots,n\}$. We consider an exponential random graph model which gives higher probability to $G \in \mathbf{G}_n$ than to $H \in \mathbf{G}_n$ if $G$ has fewer $r$-cliques than $H$. But all graphs in $\mathbf{G}_n$ have positive probability. The degree to which graphs with fewer $r$-cliques are given higher probability is determined by a positive weight $w$. We prove that, asymptotically almost surely as $n \to \infty$, a random graph from $\mathbf{G}_n$ has a vertex partition into $r-1$ parts of roughly equal size, the density of edges between the parts is close to $1/2$, and for every $\varepsilon > 0$ the density of edges within any part is less than $\varepsilon$. The asymptotic structural properties are independent of the weight $w$ as long as it is positive. We also extend the result to the context of several clique sizes, each one with its own weight.

math.CO↗

arXiv2026

Fine Difference Structure and Prime-Power Depth of Bent Partitions

A $p$-ary bent partition of $\mathbb{F}_p^n$ is a partition into $K$ nonempty cells such that every balanced assignment of its cells to $\mathbb{F}_p$ produces a bent function. It was asked whether every possible depth $K$ is a power of $p$; for general $p$, previous affirmative results required regularity or cell-symmetry hypotheses. We prove the stronger unconditional statement that, for every nonzero $h$, exactly $p^n/K$ points remain in the same fine cell under translation by $h$. Thus the fine cells form a partitioned difference family and the fine label map is zero-difference balanced. Consequently $K\mid p^n$, so $K=p^t$; nonempty cells further give $1\le t<n$. In even dimension, the classical cell-size theorem yields $K\mid p^{n/2}$. Together with the known odd-dimensional ternary three-fibre parameter restriction, this gives the global bound $t\le\lfloor n/2\rfloor$. The proof is an exact finite average over balanced coarsenings. The main counting identity and selected consequences are formalized and kernel-checked in Lean 4.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2026

A General Construction of Codes from Drinfeld Modules

We construct additive rank-metric and sum-rank-metric codes from Drinfeld modules by restricting bounded-degree morphisms to prime-to-characteristic torsion. For supersingular Drinfeld modules of rank $r$ in characteristic $\mathfrak{p}$ of degree $d$, the stabilization formula for morphism spaces yields rank-metric codes of $\mathbb{F}_q$-dimension $mrt-c$ and minimum distance $r-t+1$, where $c=r(r-1)(d-1)/2$. Simultaneous restriction to $\ell$ distinct degree-$m$ torsion modules gives additive sum-rank codes of the same dimension and minimum distance at least $\ell r-t+1$. Their normalized Singleton defects tend to zero, while in characteristic $(T)$ the module $ϕ_T=τ^r$ makes the defect vanish and produces an explicit MSRD family. We identify this family with a skew Chinese remainder theorem code supported on central skew polynomials and prove that its poly-skew weight is exactly $m$ times its sum-rank weight. This gives a specialized Singleton-type bound and a polynomial-time unique decoder up to the full sum-rank unique-decoding radius. We also derive a Welch-Berlekamp-type filter equation for the general supersingular sum-rank construction; it becomes an effective decoder whenever bases of the relevant morphism spaces and the restriction maps are computable.

math.NT↗

arXiv2026

Towards a mathematical theory of superposition

We develop a mathematical theory of superposition in neural networks using tools from frame theory and compressed sensing. In our model, a sparse binary vector $x$ of active features is encoded through an overcomplete dictionary $W$, and feature recovery is performed by applying $\operatorname{ReLU}(W^\top W x+b)$ with an appropriate bias vector $b$. We prove several recovery theorems for this model. In the random-support setting, we establish high-probability support recovery for nearly tight, low-coherence dictionaries, with guarantees when the expected sparsity is up to order $d/\log n$. In the worst-case support setting, we give a sharp and computable criterion for which sparsity levels permit support recovery. We apply this criterion to Gaussian random matrices and equiangular tight frames. For real equiangular tight frames with $n>d+1$, we determine the exact recovery threshold in terms of the coherence. The proof of this result for real equiangular tight frames relies on a novel characterization---which should be of independent interest to frame theorists---of the distribution of signs in the Gram matrix.

stat.ML↗

arXiv2026

Beyond the Bethe Approximation of the Permanent

The canonical Bethe approximation gives a deterministic approximation to the permanent of every nonnegative matrix within a factor of $(\sqrt{2})^n$. We improve the base of this exponential factor: for some absolute constant $c<\sqrt{2}$, there is a deterministic polynomial-time $c^n$-approximation for the permanent of every nonnegative matrix. This shows that the canonical Bethe guarantee is not a barrier for deterministic approximation of the permanent. The proof augments the Bethe lower bound with a new certificate tailored to matrices on which that lower bound loses nearly the full factor. The author supplied the high-level plan of attack, and the proof was developed in an interaction with ChatGPT 5.6 Sol Pro. The author subsequently verified the results. Codex assisted with proof checking, manuscript assembly, and typesetting.

cs.DS↗

arXiv2026

The Class Edge-Reconstruction Number of a Maximal Planar Graph Is One or Two

An edge card of a graph is obtained by deleting one edge, and a class edge-reconstruction number asks for the fewest carefully selected cards that identify the graph when its class is known. We determine the sharp universal bound for maximal planar graphs. Two selected cards always suffice, and the octahedral graph shows that two can be necessary; some maximal planar graphs are already identified by one card. The argument exploits the fact that deleting a flippable edge leaves a single quadrilateral whose two diagonals give the only possible maximal-planar completions. Degree information then rules out the competing completion, with a separate argument for graphs containing a vertex of degree three. This settles a problem posed in a 2010 survey on reconstruction numbers.

math.CO↗

arXiv2026

Group-averaged Markov chains II: tuning of group action in finite state space

We study group-averaged Markov chains obtained by augmenting a $π$-stationary kernel $P$ with orbit kernels induced by a group action. We analyse the Gibbs ($G$), Metropolis--Hastings ($M$), and Barker ($B$) kernels, their sandwiches $QPQ$, and mixtures $\tfrac{1}{2}(P+Q)$, where $Q\in\{G,M,B\}$. Under suitable conditions, $M^t$ and $B^t$ converge blockwise to $G$. The projection chains of $GPG$ and $P$ coincide, while every sandwich $QPQ$ has absolute spectral gap no smaller than that of reversible $P$. For $GPG$, we derive an additive asymptotic-variance bound, prove monotonicity for $G$-invariant observables, and identify it as the Kullback--Leibler (KL) information projection of $P$ onto the $G$-invariant kernels. For a fixed orbit partition, the spectral and KL properties of $GPG$ reduce to those of a lower-dimensional orbit-space chain. Among Gibbs projections with a prescribed number of orbits, we identify the partition minimizing KL divergence to stationarity and characterize exact stationarity. Finally, alternating group projections converge at a rate determined by singular values of an overlap matrix and, in structured cases, can yield exact sampling with logarithmically many group actions. These results motivate tuning heuristics and yield polynomial mixing for a Curie--Weiss example in a regime where Glauber dynamics is exponentially slow.

math.PR↗

arXiv2026

Optimal girth-dependent bounds for the Bethe approximation of the permanent

For an $n\times n$ nonnegative matrix $A$, the Bethe permanent, which is computable in deterministic polynomial time, satisfies the tight universal comparison \[\operatorname{Bethe}(A) \leq \operatorname{per}(A) \leq 2^{n/2}\operatorname{Bethe}(A).\] The lower bound, due to Gurvits, is attained on forests. The upper bound, due to Anari and Rezaei, is attained by the adjacency matrix of a disjoint union of $4$-cycles. Confirming a conjecture of Anari, we provide an optimal girth-dependent refinement of the above comparison. More precisely, we show that if the bipartite support graph of $A$ has girth at least an even integer $g \geq 4$, then \[\operatorname{Bethe}(A) \leq \operatorname{per}(A) \leq 2^{2n/g}\operatorname{Bethe}(A).\] The upper bound is attained by the adjacency matrix of a disjoint union of $g$-cycles.

math.CO↗