Resolution-Invariant Image Classification Based on Fourier Neural Operators

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the use of Fourier Neural Operators (FNOs) for image classification in comparison to standard Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). Neural operators are a discretization-invariant generalization of neural networks to approximate operators between infinite dimensional function spaces. FNOs—which are neural operators with a specific parametrization—have been applied successfully in the context of parametric PDEs. We derive the FNO architecture as an example for continuous and Fréchet-differentiable neural operators on Lebesgue spaces. We further show how CNNs can be converted into FNOs and vice versa and propose an interpolation-equivariant adaptation of the architecture.