Abstract
We propose an exact technique to calculate lower bounds of spectral gaps of discrete time reversible Markov chains on finite state sets. Spectral gaps are a common tool for evaluating convergence rates of Markov chains. As an illustration, we successfully use this technique to evaluate the 'absorption time' of the 'Backgammon model', a paradigmatic model for glassy dynamics. We also discuss the application of this technique to the 'contingency table problem', a notoriously difficult problem from probability theory. The interest of this technique is that it connects spectral gaps, which are quantities related to dynamics, with static quantities, calculated at equilibrium.