English

Gaussian conditional independence relations have no finite complete characterization

Probability 2007-05-23 v1 Commutative Algebra

Abstract

We show that there can be no finite list of conditional independence relations which can be used to deduce all conditional independence implications among Gaussian random variables. To do this, we construct, for each n>3n> 3 a family of nn conditional independence statements on nn random variables which together imply that X1\indX2X_1 \ind X_2, and such that no subset have this same implication. The proof relies on binomial primary decomposition.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0704.2847,
  title  = {Gaussian conditional independence relations have no finite complete characterization},
  author = {Seth Sullivant},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0704.2847},
  year   = {2007}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-21T08:20:51.491Z