Symmetry and Bayesian Function Estimation 1

Abstract

Summary

This paper develops Bayesian function estimation on compact Riemannian manifolds. The approach is to combine Bayesian methods along with aspects of spectral geometry associated with the Laplace-Beltrami operator on Riemannian manifolds. Although frequentist nonparametric function estimation in Euclidean space abound, to date, no attempt has been made with respect to Bayesian function estimation on a general Riemannian manifold. The Bayesian approach to function estimation is very natural for manifolds because one can elicit very specific prior information on the possible symmetries in question . One can then establish Bayes estimators that possess built in symmetries. A detailed analysis for the 2–sphere is provided.