1. Introduction
Free harmonic analysis, a fundamental area within free probability theory, generalizes classical harmonic analysis to noncommutative probability spaces. Arising from the study of non-commuting random variables, it offers powerful analytic tools for investigating the spectral behavior of large random matrices and operator-valued phenomena. Key constructs such as the
R-transform and
S-transform serve as noncommutative counterparts to the classical Fourier and Laplace transforms, enabling the study of convolutions and asymptotic distributions in free probabilistic settings. While significant theoretical developments have been made, bridging these abstract concepts with computational methods remains a challenge particularly for intricate free convolutions. Studying free harmonic analysis not only deepens our understanding of non-commutative probability but also provides powerful techniques for addressing longstanding problems in operator algebras and mathematical physics. Its tools have far-reaching applications, including in the development of free entropy, free convolution, and spectral distributions of random matrices. As such, free harmonic analysis is more than a theoretical pursuit: it is a key to unlocking insights into the structure and dynamics of systems governed by non-commutative laws, offering a rich and promising landscape for both pure and applied mathematical research as presented in [
1,
2,
3].
However, a central task in free harmonic analysis, probability theory and statistics is to determine and characterize the properties of probability measures, as this underpins the understanding of random phenomena and their distributions. Insight into these properties enables researchers to draw inferences about stochastic processes, develop novel statistical methodologies, and tackle applied problems such as estimation, hypothesis testing, and model selection as presented in [
4,
5,
6,
7]. On the other hand, limit theorems play a foundational role in probability theory by describing the asymptotic behavior of sequences of random variables. In the context of free harmonic analysis, these theorems are equally crucial, providing insight into the convergence of noncommutative random variables and the emergent spectral distributions in large-scale systems such as random matrices; see [
8,
9,
10,
11]. By characterizing how noncommutative structures behave under aggregation, limit theorems form a cornerstone for both advancing theory and informing applications in free harmonic analysis. In this context, the study of Cauchy–Stieltjes kernel (CSK) families of probability measures holds particular significance. Defined via the Cauchy–Stieltjes transform, these families offer a robust analytic framework for describing distributions. A key feature of this framework is the relative variance function (VF), which encapsulates essential structural properties of the measures and governs the behavior of various statistical quantities, including estimators and fluctuations. Investigating the behavior and structure of these VFs not only enhances theoretical understanding but also supports the development of effective computational and analytical tools.
In the framework of CSK families, the purpose of this paper is twofold. On the one hand, it seeks to contribute to the theoretical foundations of free harmonic analysis; on the other hand, it develops computational tools that enhance our ability to model and analyze systems arising in free probability. Within this context, the study examines several fundamental free probability laws, namely the free Poisson (FP), free Gamma (FG), and free Binomial (FB) distributions. It also introduces new limit theorems associated with the Fermi convolution, highlighting the interplay between free and Boolean additive structures. To present these results in a coherent way, it is necessary to begin with a review of CSK families and their VFs. These families of probability measures are constructed in analogy with classical natural exponential families (NEFs). The key difference lies in the kernel: the exponential kernel
used in NEFs is replaced, in the CSK setting, by the rational kernel
. The literature has already established important groundwork on CSK families. In particular, compactly supported CSK families were studied in [
12,
13], while [
14] extended the theory to measures with one-sided support boundaries. These contributions provide the foundation on which the present work builds, allowing us to explore both structural properties and novel asymptotic behaviors within the CSK framework.
Let
denote the set of all non-degenerate probability measures on
, and let
be the subset consisting of those probability measures whose support admits a one-sided boundary from above. For any
, define
The transform
is finite for every
.
The CSK family (of probability measures) associated with
is then defined as
The mean of
is given by
and the mapping
is bijective from
onto the interval
This interval is called the mean domain of
; see [
14].
A mean-parametrization of
can be introduced as follows. Denote the inverse of
by
. For each
define
The endpoints of the mean domain are given explicitly by
where
. Here,
is the Cauchy–Stieltjes transform (CST) of
.
If the support of
is bounded from below, the corresponding CSK family is denoted by
. In this case, the parameter
ranges over the interval
, where
is equal either to
or to
. Here,
. The associated domain of means for
is the interval
, where
If, in addition, the support of
is compact, one can define the two-sided CSK family as
The VF
plays a central role in the theory of CSK families as noted in [
13]. Intuitively, this function describes how the variability of the distributions in the family depends on their mean parameter. However, the existence of the VF is not always guaranteed. In particular, when the first moment of
does not exist, every measure in the associated family
necessarily has infinite variance.
To address this difficulty, Ref. [
14] introduced the notion of the pseudo-variance function (PVF). This generalized concept is defined by
The PVF provides a meaningful way to capture variability even in cases where the ordinary VF is not well defined.
Furthermore, if the mean of
, denoted by
, is finite, then the VF
exists. In this case, the relationship between the VF and the PVF is made precise in [
14] by the formula
This connection shows that the PVF extends the concept of VF in a consistent manner, covering both the finite-variance and infinite-variance regimes.
The free and Boolean additive convolutions will play an crucial role in this paper. The additive free convolution of
and
is the measure denoted
satisfying
where
denotes the free cumulant transform of
and is introduced as [
15]
A measure
is infinitely divisible with respect to ⊞ if for each
,
exists so that
The
s-fold free additive convolution of
with itself is denoted by
. It is well defined for
and [
16]
A probability measure is infinitely divisible with respect to ⊞ if is well defined for all .
The Boolean additive convolution
of
and
is the measure provided by
where
is the Boolean cumulant transform of
.
A probability measure
is infinitely divisible with respect to ⊎ if for every
,
exists so that
All measures
are ⊎-infinitely divisible; see [
17] (Theorem 3.6).
Now, we discuss in more details the goals of this paper: Let
be the CSK family induced by
, with finite moment of order 1. For
, introduce the sets of measures
In
Section 2, for
, we show that if
(or
), then
is a FG distribution up to a scale transformation. Here
denotes the dilation of measure
by a number
. In
Section 3, we focus on the FB CSK family and establish a property that is directly linked to its location parameter. This analysis also allows us to demonstrate an important structural limitation, namely that no CSK family can be constructed on the basis of a scale parameter.
Section 4 is devoted to the FP CSK family. In this part, we develop an estimation procedure for its elements, which is derived by exploiting the framework of free additive convolution. This provides a concrete tool for understanding how the elements of the FP CSK family behave under free summation. Finally, in
Section 5, we turn our attention to the Fermi convolution. After presenting the necessary preliminaries, we establish several new limit theorems in this setting. These results are obtained by means of VFs and rely on a combination of both free and Boolean additive convolutions. Together, they illustrate how the interplay between different notions of non-commutative independence enriches the study of CSK families.
To close this part, some useful facts are presented through the next two remarks to aid in the proof of the article’s main results.
Remark 1. Let .
- (i)
According to [14] (Proposition 3.5), the PVF determine ρ: Consider then - (ii)
Let with and . Then, according to [14] (Section 3.3), for m close sufficiently to , - (iii)
For , so that is defined and for m close sufficiently to , we have [14] - (iv)
For and for m close enough to , we have [18] In particular the variance of is .
- (v)
From [14] (Corollary 3.6), we have that
Remark 2. For , it is well known that the mean exhibits a simple behavior under both affine transformation and free additive convolution powers. Specifically, we haveand for whenever is well-defined,In contrast, no general formula is available for the upper boundary of the mean domain, , when considering either affine transformations or free additive convolution powers of ρ. To address this limitation, the authors in [19] extended the notion of the mean domain in a way that preserves the PVF. In particular, they defined the upper end of the extended mean domain as As shown in [19] (Section 3.2), this extended boundary behaves well under free additive convolution powers: for all so that is defined, one has Similarly, under dilation, we have Accordingly, in Section 2, for , we will focus on the mean domain of the form . 2. Notes on the FG Law
For
, the FG law is given by
The FG law represents a fundamental concept in the framework of free probability. It serves as the non-commutative analogue of the classical Gamma distribution, which occupies a central role in traditional probability theory. In this sense, the FG law provides a powerful tool for modeling classes of random variables that arise naturally in the free setting. Understanding its structure and properties is therefore essential for analyzing the distributional behavior of free random variables. The importance of the FG law extends to several areas of free probability and its applications, including random matrix theory, additive and multiplicative free convolutions, and non-commutative statistical models. Characterizing this distribution helps to shed light on the underlying mechanisms that govern these phenomena. Over the past few decades, the FG law has received considerable attention in the literature. For instance, the work of Haagerup and Thorbjørnsen [
20] has highlighted several significant properties of the density of the FG law. Among these are the asymptotic behavior of the distribution, its unimodality, and its analyticity, which together form a comprehensive description of its analytical profile. From another perspective, Bryc [
13] has shown that the FG law can be characterized through its VF, and that it appears naturally as a member of the free Meixner family. This characterization links the FG law with a broader class of well-structured distributions in free probability. In the present section, we aim to build upon these established results. More precisely, we expand the understanding of the FG law by presenting additional properties and insights that further clarify its role in the landscape of free distributions. To be specific, we establish the following results:
Theorem 1. Let , with finite first moment . For , consider the sets of measures defined by (
2)
and (
3)
. If - (i)
or
- (ii)
then σ is a FG law (
11)
up to a scale transformation. Proof. (i) Suppose that
. Then, ∀
, there exists
so that
As
is finite, from [
21], we know that
Basing on (
6) and (
8), we may write according to [
21]
Combining (
15) and (
16), relation (
14) becomes
From (
17), one see that
and then
as
is non-degenerate. Thus, relation (
18) gives that
for some
.
If
, then there is no VF of the form
, with
. See [
22].
If
, then
is the image by
of the FG law (
11) and we have
.
□
Remark 3. Suppose that . In that case, we have Then for , if , we have . Relation (13) is hence clearly stated. If , an identical result is reached in this instance, where the one-sided domain of means is . The inverse implication of (i) is not valid. Suppose that
and
is the image by
of
. We show that
We have that
. Then, there is
so that
and
are well defined on
. We know from [
22] (Equation (
41)) that
Combining (
40) and (
9), we obtain
Now, we calculate
. Basing on (
7), (
5) and (
12), for
, we have
Using [
19] (Equation (2.9)), we obtain
Using [
19] (Equation (2.10)), (
22) and (
24), we obtain
Equations (
25) and (
21) give
This ends the proof of (
19) based on (
26) and (
4).
(ii) Assume that
. Then, ∀
, there exists
so that
That is, for
close to 0
Equation (
28) may be expressed as
Since
is evident from (
29),
, ∀
, and ∀
. The identical conclusion is given as in (i): In other words,
and
is the image of the FG law (
11) by
.
Remark 4. Suppose that . In that case, we have . Then , if , then . Thus, relation (27) is defined. The identical conclusion is made if . The reverse implication of (ii) is also not valid. That is,
We have that
. Then,
exists so that
and
are well defined on
. Basing on (
5) and (
21), ∀
, we have
We calculate
. For
, basing on (
7) and (
12), we have
Using [
19] (Equation (2.9)), we get
Using [
19] (Equation (2.10)), (
32) and (
34), we obtain
One sees from (
31) and (
35) that
, ∀
. This ends the proof of (
30).
3. Location and Scale Parameters in CSK Families
The study of the location and scale parameters in CSK families is critical because they influence the family’s basic structural aspects, similar to how classical probability works with NEFs. The location parameter indicates distribution shifts, whereas the scale parameter records dilations or contractions, both of which are important in understanding stability, invariance, and transformations during convolution processes. Analyzing these factors offers a better understanding of how CSK families operate under free probability translation and scaling, making them more useful in limit theorems, random matrix models, and free harmonic analysis. In this part, we provide a property of the FB CSK family based on the location parameter. We also demonstrate an important structural limitation for the theory of CSK families, namely that no CSK family can be constructed on the basis of a scale parameter.
According to [
13] (Theorem 3.2), the FB law is given by
with
It induces the CSK family with
and VF
The parameter is said to be a location parameter if for , then with .
Theorem 2. Let . Suppose that is a location family induced by , with location parameter ϑ. Then, we have the following:
- (i)
If , then there is no CSK family with location parameter.
- (ii)
If , then , where with and is the FB law given by (36) with parameters and .
Proof. Suppose that
is a location family induced by
, with location parameter
. The
-transform of
is given by,
When
, Equation (
38) gives
(i) If
, relation (
39) gives
, absurde. Then, there is no CSK family with location parameter.
(ii) If
, then from (
39), one can see that
On the other hand, based on (
5) and (
37), for
m close to
, one has
Equations (
40) and (
41) gives that
, which implies that
by the use of (
4). □
The parameter is said a scale parameter if for , then with .
Theorem 3. There is no CSK family with scale parameter.
Proof. Suppose that
is a scale family generated by
, with scale parameter
. For
z close to 0, we have
When
, Equation (
42) gives,
If
, relation (
43) becomes
, absurde. Then, there is no CSK family with a scale parameter.
If
, relation (
43) becomes
, absurde.
If
, relation (
43) becomes
and this implies that
which is impossible because we deal with non-degenerate measure
.
If
, Equation (
43) implies that
But the function provided by (
44) cannot serve as a PVF. We prove this fact by contraposition. Assume that
is a PVF of a CSK family induced by a measure
with
. Then
, which contradicts Remark 1(v).
□
5. Limit Theorems Related to Fermi Convolution
Studying limit theorems related to Fermi convolution is essential for understanding the asymptotic behavior of non-commutative random variables governed by fermionic statistics. Fermi convolution arises in the context of free probability and quantum probability, where classical notions of independence are replaced by anti-commutation relations. Limit theorems in this setting provide deep insight into the distributional behavior of large systems of fermionic particles, with applications in quantum physics, statistical mechanics, and operator algebras. They help generalize classical probabilistic results to non-commutative frameworks, offering a powerful analytical tool to model and analyze complex quantum systems. In essence, these theorems bridge the gap between abstract mathematical structures and physical phenomena, making them a vital area of study in both pure and applied mathematics.
To understand the conclusions of this section, we need to review some fundamental principles regarding Fermi convolution mentioned in [
24].
and
are subsets of probability measures from
with finite mean and variance, and compact support, respectively. The
-transform is defined in [
24] for
, as
where measure
represents the zero mean shift of measure
.
Let
be the Fermi convolution of
and
. From [
24] (Theorem 3.1) we have
Furthermore, and .
We say that
is •-infinitely divisible if for each
, there is
so that
All probabilities in
are •-infinitely divisible; see [
24] (Remark 3.2).
The following finding is important for proving Theorem 5.
Proposition 1. Suppose with . For such that and are defined and for close sufficiently to , one hasand Proof. If
, then
(see [
14] (Proposition 3.10) or [
15] (Proposition 6.1)). This together with (
48) implies that
. In addition, basing on [
25] (Equation (
18)) and (
7), for
m close to
, we have
which is nothing but (
49). Furthermore, relation (
51) follows from (
1) and (
49). The same arguments are used for
to obtain formulas (
50) and (
52). □
Corollary 1. Suppose with . For , the measure and, for m close to , we haveand Proof. The proof follows from (
49) and (
51) by taking
□
Denote by the class of VFs that correspond to . Denote by the class of those such that the corresponding probability measures are •-infinitely divisible. Since all real probability measures are •-infinitely divisible, then . Denote by the class of those such that the corresponding probability measures are ⊞-infinitely divisible. We have the following result.
Theorem 5. Suppose . For such that and are defined, we have
- (i)
The map is a bijection from onto and - (ii)
The map is a bijection from onto and
Proof. (i) It is clear from (
54) that the map
correspond to the bijection
. In other words, if
is the VF of the CSK family generated by
which is •-infinitely divisible, then
is the VF of the CSK family generated by
which is ⊞-infinitely divisible. So that, the map
is a bijection from
onto
. Furthermore, one sees from (
52) that
which implies (
55), by the use of [
13] (Proposition 4.2).
(ii) The map
correspond to the bijection
. In addition, one sees from (
51) that
which implies (
56), by the use of [
13] (Proposition 4.2). □
The following result incorporates Boolean and Fermi convolutions and is useful in the proof of Theorem 6.
Proposition 2. Suppose with . For close enough to and Proof. If
, then
(see [
18] (Theorem 3.2 (i))). This together with (
48) implies that
. In addition, basing on [
25] (Equation (
18)) and (
9), for
m close to
, we have
which is nothing but (
57). Furthermore, relation (
59) follows from (
1) and (
57). The same arguments are used for
to obtain formulas (
58) and (
60). □
Corollary 2. Suppose with . For , and for close sufficiently to and Proof. The proof follows from (
57) and (
59) by taking
□
Denote by the class of those such that the corresponding probability measures are ⊎-infinitely divisible. Since all real probability measures are ⊎-infinitely divisible, then .
Theorem 6. Suppose . We have
- (i)
The map is a bijection from onto and - (ii)
The map is a bijection from onto and
Proof. (i) It is clear from (
62) that the map
corresponds to the bijection
. In other words, if
is the VF of the CSK family generated by
which is •-infinitely divisible, then
is the VF of the CSK family generated by
which is ⊎-infinitely divisible. Thus, the map
is a bijection from
onto
. In addition, one sees from (
60) that
which implies (
63), by the use of [
13] (Proposition 4.2).
(ii) The map
correspond to the bijection
. In addition, one sees from (
59) that
which implies (
64), by the use of [
13] (Proposition 4.2). □
Next, we highlight the importance of Theorems 5 and 6 by considering some specific measures.
Example 1. Letdenote the semi-circle (SC) law of mean η and variance . We know that . For simplicity and without loss of generality, we may suppose that and . - (i)
We havewhere is the the free analog of hyperbolic type law with parameters and as presented in [13] (Theorem 3.2). That is,with and corresponding VF , where and . Relation (65) can be seen by means of the VFs. Indeed, for m close to , one has - (ii)
We havewhere is the FB law as presented by (36). Indeed, for m close to , one has Note that is reduced to the symmetric Bernoulli measure .
- (iii)
We havewhere is the Marchenko–Pastur (or FP) type law with as presented in [13] (Theorem 3.2). That is and corresponding VF , where . Note that the FP law provided by (45) is just an affine transformation of (of the form (69) with ) by the map . Relation (68) can be seen by means of the VFs. Indeed, for m close to , one has - (iv)
Indeed, for m close to , one has
Example 2. The Bernoulli law generates the CSK family with and VF .
- (i)
In fact, for m close to , one has - (ii)
In fact, for m close to , one has - (iii)
In fact, for m close to , one has
6. Conclusions
The CSK families of probability measures, defined through the analytic properties of the Cauchy–Stieltjes transform, provide a rich and unifying framework for exploring a wide range of probabilistic phenomena. These families generalize exponential families in non-classical settings and have found deep connections to areas such as free probability, random matrix theory, and complex analysis. A key component in understanding the structure and behavior of such families is the relative VFs, which encapsulates the interplay between the underlying measure and its associated transform. This function not only governs local and global fluctuations but also offers insight into the geometry of the parameter space and the stability of statistical inference methods.
In this work, we have carried out a detailed investigation into several theoretical properties of CSK families. Our analysis highlights their fundamental role in the framework of modern probability theory, while also underlining their potential to stimulate progress in both theoretical developments and applied research. A central part of our contribution lies in establishing new properties of the FG law, which we derived by exploiting the interplay between free and Boolean additive convolutions. Alongside this, we examined the FB CSK family, where we identified a specific property linked to location parameter. Importantly, we also demonstrated that there cannot exist a CSK family characterized by a scale parameter, which provides new insights into the structural limitations of these families. Moreover, we proposed an estimation method for elements of the FP CSK family, relying on techniques from free additive convolution. Building on this foundation, we employed VFs to establish new limit theorems related to the Fermi convolution, incorporating tools from both free and Boolean probability. These new limit theorems draw a coherent and structured connection between several cornerstone distributions, including the SC, FP, and FB laws. This pathway not only enriches the understanding of CSK families but also reinforces their central position in the broader landscape of free probability theory.
In summary, the study of CSK families of probability measures is critical to developing the theoretical and computational framework of free harmonic analysis. These families contain detailed information about the behavior and properties of noncommutative probability distributions. Their structural qualities make detailed modeling of free convolutions possible, as well as the creation of analytic tools for understanding spectral distributions in random matrix theory and operator algebra. Furthermore, by investigating the related VFs and functional transformations, researchers can develop reliable methods for inference, estimation, and asymptotic analysis in free probabilistic systems. As such, further investigation of these families is critical for connecting abstract free probability theory to real applications in mathematics, physics, and statistics.