English

Higher-Order Hankel Obstructions to Free Infinite Divisibility for Beta Distributions

Probability 2026-07-20 v1

Abstract

We study free infinite divisibility in the two-parameter family of beta distributions {βp,q:p,q>0}\{\beta_{p,q}:p,q>0\}. Conditional positive definiteness of free cumulants yields a hierarchy of necessary Hankel conditions. We factor the first nontrivial determinant and obtain the explicit necessary inequality 2s3(s+1)+pq(s37s216s12)0,s=p+q. 2s^3(s+1)+pq\bigl(s^3-7s^2-16s-12\bigr)\geq0, \qquad s=p+q. Its strict reverse defines an open two-dimensional non-freely-infinitely-divisible region not contained in the previously known exclusions. As a boundary consequence, we complete the classification of one boundary family: β1/2,q\beta_{1/2,q} is freely infinitely divisible if and only if q3/2q\geq3/2. The 3×33\times3 determinant is also obtained explicitly in the symmetric variables s=p+qs=p+q and u=pq/s2u=pq/s^2. Finally, exact-rational LDLTLDL^{\mathsf T} certificates show that each leading Hankel test from 3×33\times3 through 12×1212\times12 strictly enlarges the exclusion supplied by all preceding leading tests. In particular, the 4×44\times4 test already detects an open set with p+q>3p+q>3, beyond the range accessible to the 2×22\times2 determinant. The results are finite-order obstructions rather than a complete classification; two limiting arguments explain why no fixed member HNH_N of the leading Hankel hierarchy can provide a uniform obstruction up to the small-parameter boundary.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2607.17630,
  title  = {Higher-Order Hankel Obstructions to Free Infinite Divisibility for Beta Distributions},
  author = {Diwen Yu},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2607.17630},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

9 pages, 1 figure; exact-rational verification code and certificates included as ancillary files