Non-asymptotic error bounds for probability flow ODEs under weak log-concavity
On the map: Diffusion models → Diffusion foundations and sampling
Abstract (arXiv)
Score-based generative modeling, implemented through probability flow ODEs, has shown impressive results in numerous practical settings. However, most convergence guarantees rely on restrictive regularity assumptions on the target distribution -- such as strong log-concavity or bounded support. This work establishes non-asymptotic convergence bounds in the 2-Wasserstein distance for a general class of probability flow ODEs under considerably weaker assumptions: weak log-concavity and Lipschitz continuity of the score function. Our framework accommodates non-log-concave distributions, such as Gaussian mixtures, and explicitly accounts for initialization errors, score approximation errors, and effects of discretization via an exponential integrator scheme. Bridging a key theoretical challenge in diffusion-based generative modeling, our results extend convergence theory to more realistic data distributions and practical ODE solvers. We provide concrete guarantees for the efficiency and correctness of the sampling algorithm, complementing the empirical success of diffusion models with rigorous theory. Moreover, from a practical perspective, our explicit rates might be helpful in choosing hyperparameters, such as the step size in the discretization.
Key facts. Cited by 7 papers in the map (data through 7 Oct 2026). Placed in Diffusion foundations and sampling, one of 14 directions in Diffusion models. Builds on 29 of its 45 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 20 Oct 2025.
Builds on
29 of 45 references.
Closest ancestors · 21
Same direction, newest first
- 2025Convergence of Deterministic and Stochastic Diffusion-Model Samplers: A Simple Analysis in Wasserstein Distance5 Aug
- 2025Wasserstein Convergence of Score-based Generative Models under Semiconvexity and Discontinuous Gradients6 May
- 2025Regularization can make diffusion models more efficient13 Feb
- 2025Beyond Log-Concavity and Score Regularity: Improved Convergence Bounds for Score-Based Generative Models in W2-distance4 Jan
- 2024From optimal score matching to optimal sampling11 Sep
- 2024Minimax Optimality of Score-based Diffusion Models: Beyond the Density Lower Bound Assumptions23 Feb
- 2024Convergence Analysis for General Probability Flow ODEs of Diffusion Models in Wasserstein Distances31 Jan
- 2023On diffusion-based generative models and their error bounds: The log-concave case with full convergence estimates22 Nov
- 2023Wasserstein Convergence Guarantees for a General Class of Score-Based Generative Models18 Nov
- 2023KL Convergence Guarantees for Score diffusion models under minimal data assumptions23 Aug
- 2023Error Bounds for Flow Matching Methods26 May
- 2023The probability flow ODE is provably fast19 May
9 more
- 2023Restoration-Degradation Beyond Linear Diffusions: A Non-Asymptotic Analysis For DDIM-Type Samplers6 Mar
- 2022Improved Analysis of Score-based Generative Modeling: User-Friendly Bounds under Minimal Smoothness Assumptions3 Nov
- 2022Convergence of score-based generative modeling for general data distributions26 Sep
- 2022Sampling is as easy as learning the score: theory for diffusion models with minimal data assumptions22 Sep
- 2022Convergence of denoising diffusion models under the manifold hypothesis10 Aug
- 2022Convergence for score-based generative modeling with polynomial complexity13 Jun
- 2022Fast Sampling of Diffusion Models with Exponential Integrator29 Apr
- 2020Score-Based Generative Modeling through Stochastic Differential Equations26 Nov
- 2020Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Models19 Jun
Other references · 8
- 2019Generative Modeling by Estimating Gradients of the Data Distributioncited by 4,067
- 2022Building Normalizing Flows with Stochastic Interpolantscited by 964
- 2023Stochastic Interpolants: A Unifying Framework for Flows and Diffusionscited by 897
- 2020Generative Modeling with Denoising Auto-Encoders and Langevin Samplingcited by 118
- 2024Optimal score estimation via empirical Bayes smoothingcited by 60
- 2021Sqrt(d) Dimension Dependence of Langevin Monte Carlocited by 25
- 2023Projected Langevin dynamics and a gradient flow for entropic optimal transportcited by 17
- 2024Theoretical guarantees in KL for Diffusion Flow Matchingcited by 14
Built on by
Citing papers per year: 2025: 1; 2026: 6.
7 papers.
- 2026Lipschitz regularity in Flow Matching and Diffusion Models: sharp sampling rates and functional inequalitiescited by 6
- 2025Parallel Sampling via Autospeculationcited by 5
- 2026Inference-Time Alignment for Diffusion Models via Variationally Stable Doob's Matchingcited by 2
- 2026Wasserstein bounds for denoising diffusion probabilistic models via the F"ollmer processcited by 2
- 2026Load--Reserve Wasserstein Propagation for Isotropic Diffusion Samplerscited by 1
- 2026Diffusion Flow Matching: Dimension-Improved KL Bounds and Wasserstein Guaranteescited by 0
- 2026Universal Local Error and Realized Amplification for the First-Order EDM Predictorcited by 0
- 2026Universal Local Error and Realized Amplification for the First-Order EDM Predictor7 Oct 2026
- 2026Diffusion Flow Matching: Dimension-Improved KL Bounds and Wasserstein Guarantees15 Jun 2026
- 2026Wasserstein bounds for denoising diffusion probabilistic models via the F"ollmer process18 May 2026
- 2026Lipschitz regularity in Flow Matching and Diffusion Models: sharp sampling rates and functional inequalities7 Apr 2026
- 2026Load--Reserve Wasserstein Propagation for Isotropic Diffusion Samplers20 Mar 2026
- 2026Inference-Time Alignment for Diffusion Models via Variationally Stable Doob's Matching10 Jan 2026
- 2025Parallel Sampling via Autospeculation11 Nov 2025
Similar, not cited
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- 2025Adaptivity and Convergence of Probability Flow ODEs in Diffusion Generative Models
- 2024Wasserstein Bounds for generative diffusion models with Gaussian tail targets
- 2022Score-based Generative Modeling Secretly Minimizes the Wasserstein Distance
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