Fluctuations in the logarithmic energy for zeros of random polynomials on the sphere

Abstract

Smale's Seventh Problem asks for an efficient algorithm to generate a configuration of $n$ points on the sphere that nearly minimizes the logarithmic energy. As a candidate starting configuration for this problem, Armentano, Beltrán and Shub considered the set of points given by the stereographic projection of the roots of the random elliptic polynomial of degree $n$ and computed the expected logarithmic energy. We study the fluctuations of the logarithmic energy associated to this random configuration and prove a central limit theorem. Our approach shows that all cumulants of the logarithmic energy are asymptotically linear in $n$, and hence the energy is well-concentrated on the scale of $\sqrt{n}$.

43 pages; to appear in Probability Theory and Related Fields