Eigenvalue densities of real and complex Wishart correlation matrices

Phys Rev Lett. 2010 Dec 10;105(24):244101. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.244101. Epub 2010 Dec 6.

Abstract

Wishart correlation matrices are the standard model for the statistical analysis of time series. The ensemble averaged eigenvalue density is of considerable practical and theoretical interest. For complex time series and correlation matrices, the eigenvalue density is known exactly. In the real case, a fundamental mathematical obstacle made it forbiddingly complicated to obtain exact results. We use the supersymmetry method to fully circumvent this problem. We present an exact formula for the eigenvalue density in the real case in terms of twofold integrals and finite sums.