Finite Free Information Theory
- Finite Free Information Theory is a framework that replaces asymptotic free-information constructs with exact finite structures such as polynomial zeros, matrix microstates, and rectangular transforms.
- It derives precise formulations of entropy, Fisher information, and additive inequalities by transitioning from limiting laws to finite-dimensional models.
- The theory unifies diverse approaches—from real-rooted polynomial analysis to microstate geometry and singular-value techniques—addressing challenges in noncommutative stochastic and quantum systems.
to=exa_search code 天天爱彩票怎么json {"9query9 \9"Finite Free Information Theory\"9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9", "9numResults9 9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9}:-------------</analysis to=exa_search code 天天爱彩票提现json {"9query9 arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9", "9numResults9 9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9}quotelevanalysis to=exa_search code 彩神争霸输钱json {"9query9 arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9"Finite Free Information Inequalities\"", "9numResults9 9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9} Finite Free Information Theory is not a single standardized formalism in the current literature. The term is used for several finite-dimensional or finite-horizon analogues of free-probabilistic, information-geometric, and correlation-theoretic constructions. In one major line, it studies entropy, Fisher information, and convolution directly on zeros of real-rooted polynomials; in another, it develops a microstate-based multivariate free information geometry for noncommutative stochastic processes; in a third, it constructs a rectangular calculus on singular values of matrix polynomials. Related uses of the phrase also occur in finite-temperature free scalar quantum field theory and in finite-horizon Maximum-Caliber formulations of information. This suggests that “Finite Free Information Theory” presently functions as an umbrella designation rather than a uniquely fixed doctrine (&&&9query9&&&, &&&9site:arxiv.org \9&&&, &&&9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9&&&, Katsinis et al., 2019, &&&9numResults9&&&).
9site:arxiv.org \9. Scope, meanings, and recurring structures
Across its current uses, the term consistently denotes a passage from asymptotic or continuum information notions to explicitly finite objects: finite degree PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9query9, finite matrix size, finite time horizon, finite temperature, or finite state space. The common pattern is the replacement of limiting laws by exact finite structures together with transforms, entropy-like functionals, Fisher-information–like quantities, or transport metrics that survive at finite scale.
| Formulation | Finite object | Representative result |
|---|---|---|
| Real-rooted polynomial theory | zeros of monic real-rooted degree-PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9^ polynomials | finite free Stam inequality and entropy power inequality |
| Chronological microstate geometry | matrix microstates tested by chronological formulas | geodesic concavity of PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9^ and EVIPRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9numResults9^ for heat flow |
| Rectangular finite free probability | singular-value polynomials for PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9query9^ matrices | finite rectangular PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9-transform linearizing additive convolution |
| Free Fisher regularity | polynomial evaluations under finite PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9numResults9^ | Hölder CDFs, finite logarithmic energy, finite PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9query9^ |
| Finite-temperature free fields | mutual information across a spatial bipartition | area law with finite classical high-PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9^ remnant |
| MaxCal finite-horizon models | path ensembles over finite horizons | information as KL deviation from the constrained MaxCal ensemble |
The literature also indicates that the adjective “finite” is context dependent. In the polynomial and singular-value programs it refers to finite algebraic degree; in chronological entropy it refers to finite- matrix microstates and ultralimit constructions; in free scalar field theory it refers to finite temperature; and in the MaxCal framework it refers to a finite horizon PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9^ and finite state spaces (&&&9query9&&&, &&&9site:arxiv.org \9&&&, &&&9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9&&&, Katsinis et al., 2019, &&&9numResults9&&&).
9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9. Real-rooted polynomials, zeros, and finite free information inequalities
A central formulation of Finite Free Information Theory works on monic real-rooted polynomials
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org \9^
viewed through their root vector PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9. For distinct roots, the score vector is
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9numResults9^
the finite free Fisher information is
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9^
and the finite free entropy is
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9^
Equivalently, PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9numResults9^ is the normalized logarithmic energy of the zeros and PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9, so the formalism has an explicit Coulomb-gas interpretation (&&&9query9&&&).
The basic finite free additive operation is Walsh’s finite free convolution. If PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9^ and PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \99, then
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9query9^
It preserves real-rootedness and has the symmetric-group average representation
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9site:arxiv.org \9^
Differentiation and finite free convolution are the two primary real-rootedness–preserving operators in the theory. The reverse heat flow
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9^
connects them to a Hermite benchmark, with PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9numResults9^ the variance-PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9query9^ monic Hermite polynomial (&&&9query9&&&).
The central information inequalities are exact finite analogues of classical and free inequalities. The finite free Stam inequality states
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9^
The finite free entropy power inequality states
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9numResults9^
There is also monotonicity of finite free Fisher information under variance-normalized differentiation and monotonicity of finite free entropy under variance-normalized differentiation, with Hermite polynomials as the sharp equality cases. In the large-degree limit, these results recover corresponding inequalities in free probability (&&&9query9&&&).
The proofs use a new link between score vectors and Jacobians of root maps. If PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9query9^ maps PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9^ to the roots of PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)99, then
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9numResults9query9^
A similar identity holds for the derivative root map PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9numResults9site:arxiv.org \9. Together with double stochasticity of the Jacobian blocks and convexity results for hyperbolic polynomials, these identities play the role of a finite Blachman-type mechanism and yield the contraction estimates behind Stam and Fisher monotonicity (&&&9query9&&&).
A later extension studies PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9numResults9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9-generalizations under finite free additive convolution. For a root vector PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9numResults9numResults9^ with distinct entries,
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9numResults9query9^
and the PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9numResults9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9-Stam deficit is
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9numResults9numResults9^
At PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9numResults9query9, FlowBoost numerically recovers the Hermite pair as the equality case and reveals a spectral structure for the linearized convolution map at the Hermite diagonal. Conditional on the conjecture that the singular values of the doubly stochastic coupling matrix PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9numResults9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9^ on the mean-zero subspace are PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9numResults99, independent of PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9query9query9, the work derives a sharp local stability constant and an PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9query9site:arxiv.org \9-uniform finite free CLT convergence rate. For PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9query9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9, the Hermite pair itself violates the proposed inequality; for PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9query9numResults9, the numerically extremal configurations bifurcate into non-matching pairs with bimodal root structure, converging back to the Hermite diagonal as PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9query9query9^ (&&&9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9&&&).
9numResults9. Chronological entropy, matrix microstates, and free information geometry
A second major program develops a finite-PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9query9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9, microstate-based “Finite Free Information Theory” for noncommutative stochastic processes. Its core object is a new multivariate free entropy PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9query9numResults9, defined from matrix microstates tested by chronological formulas. These formulas belong to a filtered metric language PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9query9query9^ with domains PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9query9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9, algebra operations, a metric, trace components, and constants PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9query99^ coding increments of a non-selfadjoint free Brownian motion compatible with the filtration. Chronological formulas are built from quantifier-free trace-polynomial expressions in resolvents and Brownian increments, then closed under continuous connectives, partial suprema and infima in chronological order, and the heat-shift PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9query9^ (&&&9site:arxiv.org \9&&&).
For PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9site:arxiv.org \9, PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9, a finite set PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9numResults9^ of restricted chronological formulas, and PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9query9, the finite-PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9^ microstate space is
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9numResults9^
The Gaussian chronological entropy is
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9query9^
and the Lebesgue version is
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9^
The construction is based on finite-PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes99^ pointwise functionals PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9numResults9query9^ and an ultrafiber quotient PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9numResults9site:arxiv.org \9^ that turns a random matrix ultraproduct into a PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9numResults9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9^ factor with filtration and free Brownian motion (&&&9site:arxiv.org \9&&&).
The information-geometric content is expressed on the space of conditional chronological types
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9numResults9numResults9^
equipped with the free Wasserstein distance
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9numResults9query9^
Optimal couplings exist, and there is a chronological Monge–Kantorovich duality with convex chronologically definable predicates of the form PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9numResults9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9, where PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9numResults9numResults9. If PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9numResults9query9^ is an optimal coupling of PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9numResults9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9^ and PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9numResults99, then
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9query9query9^
Thus the new entropy is displacement-concave along free Wasserstein geodesics (&&&9site:arxiv.org \9&&&).
The heat semigroup is defined on chronologically definable predicates by
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9query9site:arxiv.org \9^
Its evolution satisfies the metric EVIPRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9query9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9^ inequality
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9query9numResults9^
so heat evolution is the Wasserstein gradient flow of PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9query9query9^ in the metric sense. The corresponding minimizing-movement scheme is the free JKO iteration
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9query9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9^
This places the framework squarely inside an information-geometric and optimal-transport paradigm (&&&9site:arxiv.org \9&&&).
The same theory also proves a true chain rule under iterated conditioning,
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9query9numResults9^
invariance under definable closure of the conditioning variable, and a stochastic-control representation. For PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9query9query9, the ultralimit pressure is
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9query9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9^
with adapted bounded controls PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9query99. The Gaussian chronological entropy admits the variational formula
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9query9^
This gives the theory a finite-PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9site:arxiv.org \9/control-theoretic bridge analogous, in the paper’s terms, to Borell/Boué–Dupuis and Schrödinger-bridge/Benamou–Brenier structures (&&&9site:arxiv.org \9&&&).
9query9. Free Fisher information, distributional regularity, and operator-algebraic rigidity
A related strand studies the consequences of finite free Fisher information itself. In the tracial, non-microstates setting, if PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9^ has finite PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9numResults9^ and PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9query9^ is a selfadjoint noncommutative polynomial of degree PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9, then the cumulative distribution function PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9numResults9^ is Hölder continuous with explicit exponent
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9query9^
If PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9^ admits Lipschitz conjugate variables, the exponent improves to
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \99^
For linear polynomials, the exponent 9query9^ under finite 9site:arxiv.org \9^ is optimal, while Lipschitz conjugate variables yield Lipschitz continuity and hence absolute continuity with bounded density. These regularity estimates imply finite logarithmic energy and therefore finite non-microstates free entropy 9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9^ for every selfadjoint nonconstant polynomial 9numResults9, partially resolving a conjecture of Charlesworth–Shlyakhtenko under the stronger assumption 9query9^ (&&&9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9numResults9&&&).
The same work supplies an explicit route from weak convergence to rates in Kolmogorov distance. If the limiting law has Hölder CDF with exponent 9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9^ and the Cauchy transforms satisfy suitable strip estimates, then
9numResults9^
with a compact-support refinement
9query9^
Applications include convergence in Kolmogorov distance for polynomial eigenvalue laws of Gibbs ensembles and explicit GUE rates such as
9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9^
in the block-GUE semi-flat case, and
9
for selfadjoint polynomial GUE models (&&&9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9numResults9&&&).
In the non-tracial setting, finite free Fisher information for eigenvectors of a modular operator has much stronger structural consequences. If PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9query9^ is generated by a finite selfadjoint set PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9site:arxiv.org \9^ of eigenoperators of PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9^ with finite free Fisher information, then
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9numResults9^
In particular, PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9query9^ is a PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9^ factor, and if PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9numResults9^ is the closed subgroup generated by the eigenvalues of PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9query9, then PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9^ is a factor of type PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query99, PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org \9query9^ (PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org \9), or PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org \9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9^ according as PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org \9numResults9, PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org \9query9, or PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9. The same hypotheses imply that PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org \9numResults9^ does not have property PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org \9query9, and if PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9^ is type PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org \99^ with PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9query9, then PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9site:arxiv.org \9^ is full (&&&9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9&&&).
These results rely on PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9-modular derivations, conjugate variables entire for the modular group, Dirichlet forms on the centralizer, contraction resolvents, and non-tracial PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9numResults9-homology estimates. In this line of work, finite free Fisher information is not merely a regularity parameter; it becomes a rigidity hypothesis controlling diffuseness, factoriality, and type classification (&&&9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9&&&).
9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9. Rectangular finite free probability and singular-value information
Another formulation replaces eigenvalues by singular values of rectangular matrices. For PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9query9^ with PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9, the basic polynomial is
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9numResults9^
Equivalently, if PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9query9^ is a univariate polynomial with nonnegative roots, its rectangular polynomial extension of order PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9^ is PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)99. This encodes the squared singular values of PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9numResults9query9^ directly at finite dimension (&&&9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9&&&).
The finite rectangular additive convolution is defined by averaging over bi-orthogonal rotations:
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9numResults9site:arxiv.org \9^
where PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9numResults9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9, PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9numResults9numResults9^ are Haar and PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9numResults9query9. Setting PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9numResults9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9^ yields a univariate real-rooted polynomial with nonnegative roots. The operation is bilinear, associative, and preserves real-rootedness. The theory also gives an explicit coefficient formula and a differential-operator expression for the convolution (&&&9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9&&&).
This program introduces finite analogues of classical rectangular free-probability transforms. A PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9numResults9numResults9-point random variable PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9numResults9query9^ is associated to a polynomial PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9numResults9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9^ so that its power sums are fixed linear functionals of the coefficients, and the finite rectangular PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9numResults99-transform is defined by
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9query9^
It linearizes finite rectangular additive convolution:
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9site:arxiv.org \9^
A modified finite PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9-transform converges, as PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9numResults9, to the classical rectangular free PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9query9-transform, so the finite theory converges to asymptotic rectangular free probability (&&&9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9&&&).
The same framework produces explicit finite-dimensional LLN and CLT analogues for polynomials. After PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9^ rescaling, iterated finite rectangular convolution converges to the zero polynomial, while after PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9numResults9^ rescaling it converges, up to scaling, to a generalized Laguerre polynomial. In transform terms,
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9query9^
This identifies generalized Laguerre polynomials as the Gaussian analogues of the theory (&&&9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9&&&).
Because the roots of the convolved polynomial approximate squared singular values, the construction interfaces directly with spectral information functionals. For a nonnegative spectral law PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9, the Shannon transform is
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query99^
and for a PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9query9^ positive matrix it is PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9site:arxiv.org \9. In the finite rectangular framework, one computes PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9, extracts its nonnegative roots PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9numResults9, and evaluates
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9query9^
The paper explicitly notes that a finite multiplicative convolution or finite PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9-transform is not introduced there, so multiplicative problems remain asymptotic in the current rectangular theory (&&&9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9&&&).
9numResults9. Physical and finite-horizon extensions
In free scalar quantum field theory at finite temperature, Finite Free Information Theory refers to the mutual information across a spatial bipartition. For a free real scalar in PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9numResults9^ dimensions, the mutual information between a region PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9query9^ and its complement PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9^ satisfies an area law
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes99^
with PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9numResults9query9^ computable in an inverse-mass expansion. The high-temperature limit is finite and purely classical in origin:
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9numResults9site:arxiv.org \9^
For general coupled harmonic systems, the high-PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9numResults9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9^ expansion has no PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9numResults9numResults9^ term, and in the field-theory setting this cancellation is recovered once a uniform angular cutoff is imposed. The low-temperature correction is exponentially small, proportional to PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9numResults9query9, while the PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9numResults9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9^ limit matches the classical thermal calculation (Katsinis et al., 2019). A complementary numerical study of free scalar theory on concentric spherical shells established the same area-law behavior, reporting in the massless PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9numResults9numResults9-dimensional spherical setup
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9numResults9query9^
thereby exhibiting the finite classical remnant directly in the lattice computation (&&&9numResults9numResults9&&&).
A conceptually different finite-horizon usage defines information as deviation from a constrained Maximum-Caliber ensemble. For a one-step transition network, if PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9numResults9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9^ is the MaxCal input marginal
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9numResults99^
then information is
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9query9^
For longer horizons, large-deviation theory yields
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9site:arxiv.org \9^
Within this framework, Integrated Information Theory repertoires are re-derived from constrained MaxEnt/MaxCal posteriors, and partition-based integration is defined by
PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9^
The same paper states a duality to active-inference free-energy functionals and gives CLT- and LDP-based predictive-coding reductions in which PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9numResults9^ becomes a Bayesian-surprise or transition-accuracy term (&&&9numResults9&&&).
The open-problem landscape is correspondingly plural. In the chronological microstate program, open directions include ultrafilter independence of PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9query9, a chronological free Fisher functional, and EVIPRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Jekel, 14 Apr 2026) free information geometry model theory noncommutative stochastic processes9^ for free Ornstein–Uhlenbeck semigroups (&&&9site:arxiv.org \9&&&). In the polynomial program, the main unresolved issues are proof of the dyadic singular-value conjecture for PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9numResults9, proof of the PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9query9-Stam inequality for all PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9, uniqueness of the Hermite equality case at PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9query99, and characterization of the PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9query9^ bifurcating extremizers (&&&9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9&&&). In the rectangular program, the missing finite multiplicative analogue remains explicit (&&&9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9&&&). In the non-tracial Fisher-information line, an important question is how much of the factoriality and fullness theory survives without an eigenoperator generating set (&&&9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9&&&). In the MaxCal/IIT/FEP program, open questions include explicit non-equilibrium current formulations, non-Gaussian regimes beyond the CLT, and empirical validation relating PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9site:arxiv.org \9, PRESERVED_PLACEHOLDER_9site:arxiv.org \9site:arxiv.org arXiv (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026) \9 arXiv 2026 (Garza-Vargas et al., 17 Feb 2026, Jekel, 14 Apr 2026, Hashemi, 13 Apr 2026, Kearney, 3 May 2026)9, and PCI (&&&9numResults9&&&).
Taken together, these programs show that Finite Free Information Theory currently names a family of finite analogues rather than a single invariant package. What unifies them is a shared strategy: replace asymptotic free-information objects by exact finite structures—zeros, microstate sets, singular-value polynomials, path ensembles, or finite-temperature Gaussian subsystems—and recover entropy, Fisher information, transport, or mutual-information phenomena before passing to a limit.