Root n bandwidths selectors in multivariate kernel density estimation

Based on a random sample of size n from an unknown d-dimensional density f, the problem of selecting the bandwidths in kernel estimation of f is investigated. The optimal root n relative convergence rate for bandwidth selection is established and the information bounds in this convergence are given, and a stabilized bandwidth selector (SBS) is proposed. It is known that for all d the bandwidths selected by the least squares cross-validation (LSCV) have large sample variations. The proposed SBS, as an improvement of LSCV, will reduce the variation of LSCV without significantly inflating its bias. The key idea of the SBS is to modify the d-dimensional sample characteristic function beyond some cut-off frequency in estimating the integrated squared bias. It is shown that for all d and sufficiently smooth f and kernel, if the bandwidth in each coordinate direction varies freely, then the multivariate SBS is asymptotically normal with the optimal root n relative convergence rate and achieves the (conjectured) lower bound on the covariance matrix.Part of the research was done while the first author was visiting the Institute of Statistical Science, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan. This work was supported by grant NSC-89-2118-M-006-011, NSC-90-2118-M-006-013 and NSC-91-2118-M-006-005 of National Science Council of Taiwan, R.O.C.