Isotropic covariance matrix polynomials on spheres

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis article characterizes the covariance matrix function of a Gaussian or elliptically contoured vector random field that is stationary, isotropic, and mean square continuous on the sphere. By applying the characterization to examine the validity of a matrix function whose entries are polynomials of degrees up to 4, we obtain a necessary and sufficient condition for the polynomial matrix to be an isotropic covariance matrix function on the sphere.