Gap metrics for stationary point processes and quantitative convexity of the free energy

Abstract

In this article, we are interested in convexity properties of the free energy for stationary point processes on $\mathbb R$ w.r.t.\ a new geometry inspired by optimal transport. We will show for a rich class of pairwise interaction energies A) quantified strict convexity of the free energy implying uniqueness of minimizers B) existence of a gradient flow curve of the free energy w.r.t. the new metric converging exponentially fast to the unique minimizer. Examples for energies for which A holds include logarithmic or Riesz interactions with parameter $0<s<1$, examples for which A and B hold are hypersingular Riesz or Yukawa interactions.