The Geometry of Efficient Nonconvex Sampling

arXiv stat.ML / 3/27/2026

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Key Points

  • The paper introduces a polynomial-time algorithm for uniformly sampling from an arbitrary compact set in high-dimensional space, starting from a “warm start.”
  • It establishes conditions based on isoperimetry and a natural volume-growth property that enable efficient nonconvex sampling.
  • The theoretical guarantees are positioned as a broad unification, generalizing earlier sampling results known for convex and star-shaped bodies.
  • The algorithm’s complexity depends on the dimension, the Poincaré constant of the uniform distribution over the set, and the set’s volume growth constant.
  • The work focuses on mathematical foundations for efficient sampling in nonconvex geometry, which can support downstream probabilistic inference and optimization methods.

Abstract

We present an efficient algorithm for uniformly sampling from an arbitrary compact body \mathcal{X} \subset \mathbb{R}^n from a warm start under isoperimetry and a natural volume growth condition. Our result provides a substantial common generalization of known results for convex bodies and star-shaped bodies. The complexity of the algorithm is polynomial in the dimension, the Poincar\'e constant of the uniform distribution on \mathcal{X} and the volume growth constant of the set \mathcal{X}.