Matrix Poincaré inequalities and concentration

Abstract: We show that any probability measure satisfying a Matrix Poincar\'e inequality with respect to some reversible Markov generator satisfies an exponential matrix concentration inequality depending on the associated matrix carr\'e du champ operator. This extends to the matrix setting a classical phenomenon in the scalar case. Moreover, the proof gives rise to new matrix trace inequalities which could be of independent interest. We then apply this general fact by establishing matrix Poincar\'{e} inequalities to derive matrix concentration inequalities for Gaussian measures, product measures and for Strong Rayleigh measures. The latter represents the first instance of matrix concentration for general matrix functions of negatively dependent random variables.