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A Walk From Free Probability to Matrix Discrepancy I: Matrix Spencer

Tarun Kathuria

cs.DS Sep 16, 2026 · v1
Main matrix discrepancy theorems (including the Matrix Spencer bound) were formalized in Lean, with releases planned.
The Matrix Spencer conjecture asks whether any $n$ real symmetric matrices A_1,...,A_n \in \mathbb{R}^{m \times m} of operator norm at most one admit a signing $x\in\{-1,1\}^n$ such that the operator norm of the signed sum is at most O(\sqrt{n \log(2m/n)}) We give a randomized algorithm establishing this bound with polynomial runtime in the real-arithmetic model. We first prove the $O(\sqrt n)$ bound for $m\le n$, resolving the square case, and then obtain the rectangular bound by changing the regularizer. As in earlier algorithmic discrepancy methods \cite{lovettmeka2012,bansalLaddhaVempala2022,pesentivladu2026}, we run a covariance-controlled random walk from the origin of the hypercube, rounding coordinates near its faces and keeping them fixed. Our potential measures a soft spectral edge of the evolving discrepancy matrix perturbed by an operator-valued free semicircular element. Inspired by the free interpolation approach of \cite{bbvh2023}, we combine Lehner's variational formula for the free edge \cite{lehner1999} with spectral Tsallis regularization \cite{allenZhuLiaoOrecchia2015,pesentivladu2026}. This puts the discrepancy and remaining covariance in a single smooth optimization problem. The potential has a finite-dimensional semidefinite formulation. Stability of its optimizer, governed by equations related to the matrix Dyson equation \cite{erdos2019}, lets us find a large subspace in which to move while controlling discrepancy. The square case uses the Tsallis–$1/2$ regularizer; the rectangular case uses a suitable generalized Tsallis power regularizer. Our companion paper \cite{kathuria2026ks} applies these ideas to give an algorithmic proof of Weaver's discrepancy theorem, whose existence proof by [MSS15] resolved the Kadison–Singer conjecture \cite{mss2015}.Lean formalizations of our main discrepancy theorems have been completed and will be released shortly.

The Matrix Spencer conjecture asks whether n real symmetric m×m matrices of operator norm at most one admit a ±1 signing whose signed sum has operator norm O(sqrt(n log(2m/n))). Prior approaches did not resolve the square case algorithmically.

A randomized covariance-controlled random walk from the hypercube origin rounds coordinates near faces and fixes them. The potential measures a soft spectral edge of the discrepancy matrix perturbed by an operator-valued free semicircular element, combining Lehner's variational formula with spectral Tsallis regularization into a single smooth semidefinite optimization. Stability of the optimizer, governed by matrix Dyson equation type analysis, yields a large subspace in which to move while controlling discrepancy. The square case uses a Tsallis-1/2 regularizer and the rectangular case a generalized Tsallis power regularizer.

A polynomial-time randomized algorithm (real-arithmetic model) establishes the Matrix Spencer bound, resolving the square case with an O(sqrt n) bound for m ≤ n and the rectangular bound for m ≥ n. Lean formalizations of the main discrepancy theorems have been completed.

regimebound
m ≤ n10^8 √n
m ≥ n ≥ 110^8 √(n(1+log(2m/n)))
Signed-sum operator norm bound