Infinite-Variate $L^2$-Approximation with Nested Subspace Sampling

Abstract: We consider $L^2$-approximation on weighted reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces of functions depending on infinitely many variables. We focus on unrestricted linear information, admitting evaluations of arbitrary continuous linear functionals. We distinguish between ANOVA and non-ANOVA spaces, where, by ANOVA spaces, we refer to function spaces whose norms are induced by an underlying ANOVA function decomposition. In ANOVA spaces, we provide an optimal algorithm to solve the approximation problem using linear information. We determine the upper and lower error bounds on the polynomial convergence rate of $n$-th minimal worst-case errors, which match if the weights decay regularly. For non-ANOVA spaces, we also establish upper and lower error bounds. Our analysis reveals that for weights with a regular and moderate decay behavior, the convergence rate of $n$-th minimal errors is strictly higher in ANOVA than in non-ANOVA spaces.