A Projected Exponential Family for Modeling Semicircular Data

Abstract

For modeling(skewed) semicircular data, we derive a new exponential family of distributions. We extend it to the l-axial exponential family of distributions by a projection for modeling any arc of arbitrary length. It is straightforward to generate samples from the l-axial exponential family of distributions. Asymptotic result reveals that the linear exponential family of distributions can be used to approximate the l-axial exponential family of distributions. Some trigonometric moments are also derived in closed forms. The maximum likelihood estimation is adopted to estimate model parameters. Some hypotheses tests and confidence intervals are also developed. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test is adopted for a goodness of t test of the l-axial exponential family of distributions. Samples of orientations are used to demonstrate the proposed model.