On the gradient conjecture at infinity: Finite spherical length for gradient trajectories of definable potentials

Thang Do, Arnulf Jentzen, Benno Kuckuck

We prove that for every open $ U \subseteq \mathbb R^n $ the spherical projection of every gradient trajectory $θ(t)$, $t \geq 0$, of a definable $C^1$-potential $F \colon U \to \mathbb R$ has finite length and, in particular, converges (directional convergence). In other words, every gradient trajectory of a definable $C^1$-potential has finite total angular motion. Here, definable means definable in an arbitrary o-minimal structure expanding the real field. Notably, the gradient trajectory in this result is an arbitrary solution of the gradient flow differential equation (whose solutions may not be unique) with no further assumptions: The gradient trajectory may be unbounded and diverge to infinity or it may be convergent. The established theorem therefore provides affirmative answers to both the gradient conjecture at infinity for definable potentials and the definable Thom gradient conjecture. We apply our theorem to the training of deep neural networks (DNNs) to conclude that, in the case of definable and continuously differentiable activation and loss functions, the spherical projection of the DNN training flow must always converge (directional convergence).