Some features of the López-Ruiz-Mancini-Calbet (LMC) statistical measure of complexity

Abstract We discuss some aspects of a statistical measure of complexity recently introduced by Lopez-Ruiz, Mancini and Calbet (LMC) [Phys. Lett. A 209 (1995) 321]. By means of a numerical procedure and analytical considerations, we exhibit the qualitative features of discrete probability distributions that maximize the LMC measure. We also study the behavior of the LMC measure under replications of the system. Moreover, we show some peculiarities concerning continuous probability distributions.