Q-exponential distribution

Summary

The q-exponential distribution is a probability distribution arising from the maximization of the Tsallis entropy under appropriate constraints, including constraining the domain to be positive. It is one example of a Tsallis distribution. The q-exponential is a generalization of the exponential distribution in the same way that Tsallis entropy is a generalization of standard Boltzmann–Gibbs entropy or Shannon entropy.[1] The exponential distribution is recovered as

q-exponential distribution
Probability density function
Probability density plots of q-exponential distributions
Parameters shape (real)
rate (real)
Support
PDF
CDF
Mean
Otherwise undefined
Median
Mode 0
Variance
Skewness
Excess kurtosis

Originally proposed by the statisticians George Box and David Cox in 1964,[2] and known as the reverse Box–Cox transformation for a particular case of power transform in statistics.

Characterization

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Probability density function

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The q-exponential distribution has the probability density function

 

where

 

is the q-exponential if q ≠ 1. When q = 1, eq(x) is just exp(x).

Derivation

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In a similar procedure to how the exponential distribution can be derived (using the standard Boltzmann–Gibbs entropy or Shannon entropy and constraining the domain of the variable to be positive), the q-exponential distribution can be derived from a maximization of the Tsallis Entropy subject to the appropriate constraints.

Relationship to other distributions

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The q-exponential is a special case of the generalized Pareto distribution where

 

The q-exponential is the generalization of the Lomax distribution (Pareto Type II), as it extends this distribution to the cases of finite support. The Lomax parameters are:

 

As the Lomax distribution is a shifted version of the Pareto distribution, the q-exponential is a shifted reparameterized generalization of the Pareto. When q > 1, the q-exponential is equivalent to the Pareto shifted to have support starting at zero. Specifically, if

 

then  

Generating random deviates

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Random deviates can be drawn using inverse transform sampling. Given a variable U that is uniformly distributed on the interval (0,1), then

 

where   is the q-logarithm and  

Applications

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Being a power transform, it is a usual technique in statistics for stabilizing the variance, making the data more normal distribution-like and improving the validity of measures of association such as the Pearson correlation between variables. It has been found to be an accurate model for train delays.[3] It is also found in atomic physics and quantum optics, for example processes of molecular condensate creation via transition through the Feshbach resonance.[4]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Tsallis, C. Nonadditive entropy and nonextensive statistical mechanics-an overview after 20 years. Braz. J. Phys. 2009, 39, 337–356
  2. ^ Box, George E. P.; Cox, D. R. (1964). "An analysis of transformations". Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series B. 26 (2): 211–252. JSTOR 2984418. MR 0192611.
  3. ^ Keith Briggs and Christian Beck (2007). "Modelling train delays with q-exponential functions". Physica A. 378 (2): 498–504. arXiv:physics/0611097. Bibcode:2007PhyA..378..498B. doi:10.1016/j.physa.2006.11.084. S2CID 107475.
  4. ^ C. Sun; N. A. Sinitsyn (2016). "Landau-Zener extension of the Tavis-Cummings model: Structure of the solution". Phys. Rev. A. 94 (3): 033808. arXiv:1606.08430. Bibcode:2016PhRvA..94c3808S. doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.94.033808. S2CID 119317114.

Further reading

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  • Juniper, J. (2007) "The Tsallis Distribution and Generalised Entropy: Prospects for Future Research into Decision-Making under Uncertainty", Centre of Full Employment and Equity, The University of Newcastle, Australia
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  • Tsallis Statistics, Statistical Mechanics for Non-extensive Systems and Long-Range Interactions