Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

David Sherman

Publications and source records attributed to David Sherman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2025

Forecasting Drought Using Machine Learning in California

Drought is a frequent and costly natural disaster in California, with major negative impacts on agricultural production and water resource availability, particularly groundwater. This study investigated the performance of applying different machine learning approaches to predicting the U.S. Drought Monitor classification in California. Four approaches were used: a convolutional neural network (CNN), random forest, XGBoost, and long short term memory (LSTM) recurrent neural network, and compared to a baseline persistence model. We evaluated the models' performance in predicting severe drought (USDM drought category D2 or higher) using a macro F1 binary classification metric. The LSTM model emerged as the top performer, followed by XGBoost, CNN, and random forest. Further evaluation of our results at the county level suggested that the LSTM model would perform best in counties with more consistent drought patterns and where severe drought was more common, and the LSTM model would perform worse where drought scores increased rapidly. Utilizing 30 weeks of historical data, the LSTM model successfully forecasted drought scores for a 12-week period with a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.33, equivalent to less than half a drought category on a scale of 0 to 5. Additionally, the LSTM achieved a macro F1 score of 0.9, indicating high accuracy in binary classification for severe drought conditions. Evaluation of different window and future horizon sizes in weeks suggested that at least 24 weeks of data would result in the best performance, with best performance for shorter horizon sizes, particularly less than eight weeks.

cs.LG↗
arXiv2025

A quantization of coarse spaces and uniform Roe algebras

We propose a quantization of coarse spaces and uniform Roe algebras. The objects are based on the quantum relations introduced by N. Weaver and require the choice of a represented von Neumann algebra. In the case of the diagonal inclusion l_infty(X) subset B(l_2(X)), they reduce to the usual constructions. Quantum metric spaces furnish natural examples parallel to the classical setting, but we provide other examples that are not inspired by metric considerations, including the new class of support expansion C*-algebras. We also work out the basic theory for maps between quantum coarse spaces and their consequences for quantum uniform Roe algebras.

math.OA↗
arXiv2022

Support expansion $\mathrm C^*$-algebras

We consider operators on $L^2$ spaces that expand the support of vectors in a manner controlled by some constraint function. The primary objects of study are $\mathrm C^*$-algebras that arise from suitable families of constraints, which we call support expansion $\mathrm C^*$-algebras. In the discrete setting, support expansion $\mathrm C^*$-algebras are classical uniform Roe algebras, and the continuous version featured here provides examples of "measurable" or "quantum" uniform Roe algebras as developed in a companion paper. We find that in contrast to the discrete setting, the poset of support expansion $\mathrm C^*$-algebras inside $\mathcal B(L^2(\mathbb R))$ is extremely rich, with uncountable ascending chains, descending chains, and antichains.

math.OA↗
arXiv2018

The universal C*-algebra of a contraction

We say that a contractive Hilbert space operator is universal if there is a natural surjection from its generated C*-algebra to the C*-algebra generated by any other contraction. A universal contraction may be irreducible or a direct sum of (even nilpotent) matrices; we sharpen the latter fact and its proof in several ways, including von Neumann-type inequalities for noncommutative *-polynomials. We also record properties of the unique C*-algebra generated by a universal contraction, and we show that it can be used similarly to C*(F_2) in various Kirchberg-like reformulations of Connes' Embedding Problem (some known, some new). Finally we prove some analogous results for universal C*-algebras of noncommuting row contractions and universal Pythagorean C*-algebras.

math.OA↗
arXiv2016

On the similarity of AB and BA for normal and other matrices

It is well-known that $AB$ and $BA$ are similar when $A$ and $B$ are complex square Hermitian matrices. In this note we answer a question of F. Zhang by demonstrating that similarity can fail if $A$ is Hermitian and $B$ is normal. Perhaps surprisingly, similarity does hold when $A$ is positive semidefinite and $B$ is normal.

math.FA↗
arXiv2013

Existentially closed II_1 factors

We examine the properties of existentially closed (R^omega-embeddable) II_1 factors. In particular, we use the fact that every automorphism of an existentially closed (R^omega-embeddable) II_1 factor is approximately inner to prove that Th(R) is not model-complete. We also show that Th(R) is complete for both finite and infinite forcing and use the latter result to prove that there exist continuum many nonisomorphic existentially closed models of Th(R).

math.OA↗
arXiv2013

Model theory of operator algebras II: Model theory

We introduce a version of logic for metric structures suitable for applications to C*-algebras and tracial von Neumann algebras. We also prove a purely model-theoretic result to the effect that the theory of a separable metric structure is stable if and only if all of its ultrapowers associated with nonprincipal ultrafilters on N are isomorphic even when the Continuum Hypothesis fails.

math.LO↗
arXiv2012

Model theory of operator algebras I: Stability

Several authors have considered whether the ultrapower and the relative commutant of a C*-algebra or II_1 factor depend on the choice of the ultrafilter. We settle each of these questions, extending results of Ge-Hadwin and the first author.

math.OA↗
arXiv2011

Model theory of operator algebras III: Elementary equivalence and II_1 factors

We use continuous model theory to obtain several results concerning isomorphisms and embeddings between II_1 factors and their ultrapowers. Among other things, we show that for any II_1 factor M, there are continuum many nonisomorphic separable II_1 factors that have an ultrapower isomorphic to an ultrapower of M. We also give a poor man's resolution of the Connes Embedding Problem: there exists a separable II_1 factor such that all II_1 factors embed into one of its ultrapowers.

math.OA↗
arXiv2009

On cardinal invariants and generators for von Neumann algebras

We demonstrate how virtually all common cardinal invariants associated to a von Neumann algebra M can be computed from the decomposability number, dec(M), and the minimal cardinality of a generating set, gen(M). Applications include the equivalence of the well-known generator problem, "Is every separably-acting von Neumann algebra singly-generated?", with the formally stronger questions, "Is every countably-generated von Neumann algebra singly-generated?" and "Is the gen invariant monotone?" Modulo the generator problem, we determine the range of the invariant (gen(M), dec(M)), which is mostly governed by the inequality dec(M) leq c^{gen(M)}.

math.OA↗
arXiv2009

Conditional expectations onto maximal abelian *-subalgebras

We determine when there is a unique conditional expectation from a semifinite von Neumann algebra onto a singly-generated maximal abelian *-subalgebra. Our work extends the results of Kadison and Singer via new methods, notably the observation that a unique conditional expectation onto a singly-generated maximal abelian *-subalgebra must be normal.

math.OA↗
arXiv2008

Notes on automorphisms of ultrapowers of II_1 factors

In functional analysis, approximative properties of an object become precise in its ultrapower. We discuss this idea and its consequences for automorphisms of II_1 factors. Here are some sample results: (1) an automorphism is approximately inner if and only if its ultrapower is aleph_0-locally inner; (2) the ultrapower of an outer automorphism is always outer; (3) for unital *-homomorphisms from a separable nuclear C*-algebra into an ultrapower of a II_1 factor, equality of the induced traces implies unitary equivalence. All statements are proved using operator algebraic techniques, but in the last section of the paper we indicate how the underlying principle is related to theorems of Henson's positive bounded logic.

math.OA↗
arXiv2008

Divisible operators in von Neumann algebras

Relativizing an idea from multiplicity theory, we say that an element x of a von Neumann algebra M is n-divisible if (W*(x)' cap M) unitally contains a factor of type I_n. We decide the density of the n-divisible operators, for various n, M, and operator topologies. The most sensitive case is sigma-strong density in II_1 factors, which is closely related to the McDuff property. We make use of Voiculescu's noncommutative Weyl-von Neumann theorem to obtain several descriptions of the norm closure of the n-divisible operators in B(ell^2). Here are two consequences: (1) in contrast to the reducible operators, of which they form a subset, the divisible operators are nowhere dense; (2) if an operator is a norm limit of divisible operators, it is actually a norm limit of unitary conjugates of a single divisible operator. This is related to our ongoing work on unitary orbits by the following theorem, which is new even for B(ell^2): if an element of a von Neumann algebra belongs to the norm closure of the aleph_0-divisible operators, then the sigma-weak closure of its unitary orbit is convex.

math.OA↗
arXiv2008

Locally inner automorphisms of operator algebras

In this paper an automorphism of a unital C*-algebra is said to be /locally inner/ if on any element it agrees with some inner automorphism. We make a fairly complete study of local innerness in von Neumann algebras, incorporating comparison with the pointwise innerness of Haagerup-Stormer. On some von Neumann algebras, including all with separable predual, a locally inner automorphism must be inner. But a transfinitely recursive construction demonstrates that this is not true in general. As an application, we show that the diagonal sum descends to a well-defined map on the automorphism orbits of a unital C*-algebra if and only if all its automorphisms are locally inner.

math.OA↗
arXiv2005

Unitary orbits of normal operators in von Neumann algebras

The starting points for this paper are simple descriptions of the norm and strong* closures of the unitary orbit of a normal operator in a von Neumann algebra. The statements are in terms of spectral data and do not depend on the type or cardinality of the algebra. We relate this to several known results and derive some consequences, of which we list a few here. Exactly when the ambient von Neumann algebra is a direct sum of sigma-finite algebras, any two normal operators have the same norm-closed unitary orbit if and only if they have the same strong*-closed unitary orbit if and only if they have the same strong-closed unitary orbit. But these three closures generally differ from each other and from the unclosed unitary orbit, and we characterize when equality holds between any two of these four sets. We also show that in a properly infinite von Neumann algebra, the strong-closed unitary orbit of any operator, not necessarily normal, meets the center in the (non-void) left essential central spectrum of Halpern. One corollary is a "type III Weyl-von Neumann-Berg theorem" involving containment of essential central spectra.

math.OA↗
arXiv2005

On the dimension theory of von Neumann algebras

In this paper we study three aspects of (P(M)/~), the set of Murray-von Neumann equivalence classes of projections in a von Neumann algebra M. First we determine the topological structure that (P(M)/~) inherits from the operator topologies on M. Then we show that there is a version of the center-valued trace which extends the dimension function, even when M is not sigma-finite. Finally we prove that (P(M)/~) is a complete lattice, a fact which has an interesting reformulation in terms of representations.

math.OA↗
arXiv2004

A new proof of the noncommutative Banach-Stone theorem

Surjective isometries between unital C*-algebras were classified in 1951 by Kadison. In 1972 Paterson and Sinclair handled the nonunital case by assuming Kadison's theorem and supplying some supplementary lemmas. Here we combine an observation of Paterson and Sinclair with variations on the methods of Yeadon and the author, producing a fundamentally new proof of the structure of surjective isometries between (nonunital) C*-algebras. In the final section we indicate how our techniques may be applied to classify surjective isometries of noncommutative Lp spaces, extending some recent results of the author to 0 < p leq 1.

math.OA↗