An Extended Zeta Function with Applications in Model Building and Bayesian Analysis

Abstract

In certain problems in model building and Bayesian analysis, the results end up in forms connected with generalized zeta functions. This necessitates the introduction of an extended form of the generalized zeta function. Such an extended form of the zeta function is introduced in this paper. In model building situations and in various types of applications in physical, biological and social sciences and engineering, a basic model taken is the Gaussian model in the univariate, multivariate and matrix-variate situations. A real scalar variable logistic model behaves like a Gaussian model but with a thicker tail. Hence, for many of industrial applications, a logistic model is preferred to a Gaussian model. When we study the properties of a logistic model in the multivariate and matrix-variate cases, in the real and complex domains, invariably the problem ends up in the extended zeta function defined in this paper. Several such extended logistic models are considered. It is also found that certain Bayesian considerations also end up in the extended zeta function introduced in this paper. Several such Bayesian models in the multivariate and matrix-variate cases in the real and complex domains are discussed. It is stated in a recent paper that “Quantum Mechanics is just the Bayesian theory generalized to the complex Hilbert space”. Hence, the models developed in this paper are expected to have applications in quantum mechanics, communication theory, physics, statistics and related areas.