mlsanityData to 14 Oct 2026

Finite-Time Analysis of Projected Two-Time-Scale Stochastic Approximation

arXiv 2604.00179 ↗First posted 31 Mar 2026eess.SY cs.LG cs.SYcited by 0

Not on the map. Why?

Abstract (arXiv)

We study the finite-time convergence of projected linear two-time-scale stochastic approximation with constant step sizes and Polyak--Ruppert averaging. We establish an explicit mean-square error bound, decomposing it into two interpretable components, an approximation error determined by the constrained subspace and a statistical error decaying at a sublinear rate, with constants expressed through restricted stability margins and a coupling invertibility condition. These constants cleanly separate the effect of subspace choice (approximation errors) from the effect of the averaging horizon (statistical errors). We illustrate our theoretical results through a number of numerical experiments on both synthetic and reinforcement learning problems.

Key facts. No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026). Builds on 5 of its 18 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 31 Mar 2026.

Builds on

5 of 18 references.

References · 5

  1. 2019Finite-Time Error Bounds For Linear Stochastic Approximation and TD Learningcited by 166
  2. 2020On Linear Stochastic Approximation: Fine-grained Polyak-Ruppert and Non-Asymptotic Concentrationcited by 68
  3. 2020Finite Time Analysis of Linear Two-timescale Stochastic Approximation with Markovian Noisecited by 53
  4. 2025Nonasymptotic CLT and Error Bounds for Linear Two-Time-Scale Stochastic Approximationcited by 6
  5. 2019Finite-Time Performance of Distributed Two-Time-Scale Stochastic Approximationcited by 3

Built on by

Not cited yet.

Similar, not cited

Close in wording, no citation either way

  1. 2024Fast Nonlinear Two-Time-Scale Stochastic Approximation: Achieving O(1/k) Finite-Sample Complexity
  2. 2026The Bias of Nonlinear Two-Time-scale Stochastic Approximation under Constant Step-Sizes
  3. 2025O(1/k) Finite-Time Bound for Non-Linear Two-Time-Scale Stochastic Approximation
  4. 2025Non-Expansive Mappings in Two-Time-Scale Stochastic Approximation: Finite-Time Analysis
  5. 2025Finite-Time Bounds for Two-Time-Scale Stochastic Approximation with Arbitrary Norm Contractions and Markovian Noise
  6. 2026Convergence of Two-Timescale Markovian Stochastic Approximations with Applications in Reinforcement Learning
  7. 2026Finite-Time Concentration and Convergence Rates for Projected Two-Time-Scale Stochastic Approximation with Markov Noise
  8. 2024Fast Two-Time-Scale Stochastic Gradient Method with Applications in Reinforcement Learning