Generative Neural Operators through Diffusion Last Layer
On the map: Diffusion models → Diffusion foundations and sampling
Abstract (arXiv)
Neural operators provide a powerful framework for learning discretization invariant mappings between function spaces, but standard deterministic models do not capture predictive uncertainty. We introduce diffusion last layer (DLL), a modular probabilistic output head for neural operator backbones. DLL represents target fields through an input dependent low rank expansion inspired by the Karhunen-Lo'eve expansion and learns a conditional diffusion model over the corresponding coefficient space. This design enables efficient distributional modeling while preserving the structural advantages of operator learning. On stochastic PDE benchmarks with random forcing, DLL achieves strong distributional fidelity and performs competitively with pixel space and conventional latent diffusion baselines. In deterministic long horizon rollout tasks, DLL improves rollout stability over the underlying backbone and provides useful estimates of predictive uncertainty under compounding autoregressive errors. These results suggest that diffusion modeling in learned coefficient spaces offers a practical route to uncertainty aware neural operators.
Key facts. No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026). Placed in Diffusion foundations and sampling, one of 14 directions in Diffusion models. Builds on 66 of its 79 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 4 Feb 2026.
Builds on
66 of 79 references.
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