On the Randomized Error of Polynomial Methods for Eigenvector and Eigenvalue Estimates

In this paper we consider the problem of estimating the largest eigenvalue and the corresponding eigenvector of a symmetric matrix. In particular, we consider iterative methods, such as the power method and the Lanczos method. These methods need a starting vector which is usually chosen randomly. We analyze the behavior of these methods when the initial vector is chosen with uniform distribution over the unitn-dimensional sphere. We extend and generalize the results reported earlier. In particular, we give upper and lower bounds on the L_pnorm of the randomized error, and we improve previously known bounds with a detailed analysis of the role of the multiplicity of the largest eigenvalue.