Block-length dependent thresholds in block-sparse compressed sensing

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the success thresholds of block-sparse compressed sensing algorithms depend on block-length, providing precise bounds on allowable sparsity levels as functions of block-length.

Contribution

It introduces a model where block-length is a parameter, deriving sharp lower bounds on block-sparsity thresholds based on block-length in compressed sensing.

Findings

Derived sharp lower bounds on block-sparsity thresholds

Established thresholds as functions of block-length

Extended previous results to variable block-lengths

Abstract

One of the most basic problems in compressed sensing is solving an under-determined system of linear equations. Although this problem seems rather hard certain $\ell_1$-optimization algorithm appears to be very successful in solving it. The recent work of \cite{CRT,DonohoPol} rigorously proved (in a large dimensional and statistical context) that if the number of equations (measurements in the compressed sensing terminology) in the system is proportional to the length of the unknown vector then there is a sparsity (number of non-zero elements of the unknown vector) also proportional to the length of the unknown vector such that $\ell_1$-optimization algorithm succeeds in solving the system. In more recent papers \cite{StojnicICASSP09block,StojnicJSTSP09} we considered the setup of the so-called \textbf{block}-sparse unknown vectors. In a large dimensional and statistical context, we determined sharp lower bounds on the values of allowable sparsity for any given number (proportional to the length of the unknown vector) of equations such that an $\ell_2/\ell_1$-optimization algorithm succeeds in solving the system. The results established in \cite{StojnicICASSP09block,StojnicJSTSP09} assumed a fairly large block-length of the block-sparse vectors. In this paper we consider the block-length to be a parameter of the system. Consequently, we then establish sharp lower bounds on the values of the allowable block-sparsity as functions of the block-length.