3
$\begingroup$

Let $Y$ be an infinitely divisible (I.D.) random variable.

Let $\nu$ be any measure not necessarily finite: $\nu(\mathbb R)\leq \infty$. Suppose that $Y \sim (0, \nu,0)_0$ according to the notation on Page 39, Equation (8.7), from Sato, Ken-Iti, Lévy processes and infinitely divisible distributions, ZBL0973.60001.

That is, the Lévy-Khintchine representation of the characteristic function is given by: \begin{equation} \label{I}\tag{I} \varphi_Y(z) = \exp\left\{ \int_{\mathbb R} [e^{izx} - 1] \, d\nu(x) \right\} \end{equation}

$\underline{Remark\,\,1:}$

Note that if $\nu(\mathbb R)< \infty$, we can set $\lambda:=\nu(\mathbb R)$ and writte: $$ \varphi_Y(z) = \exp\left\{\lambda \int_\mathbb R [e^{izx} - 1] \, d\eta(x) \right\}, \quad d\eta(x):= d\nu(x)/\lambda$$ In this case, we have that $\eta$ is a probability measure ($\eta(\mathbb R)=1$) and $Y$ is a compound Poisson random variable $Y \sim CP(\lambda, \eta)$( See page 18, Equation (4.1) from the Sato's book (reference above) or Updated remark 2 below.)

However, in general, we don't have $\nu(\mathbb R)< \infty$. For example, see this question and this other question, where we have infinite mass around zero.

So my question is: Given a sequence $(X_n)_{n \in \mathbb N}$ of I.D. random variables with $$ \varphi_{X_n}(z) = \int_{\mathbb R} [e^{izx}-1 ] \, d\nu_n(x), \quad \nu_n(\mathbb R)< \infty$$ By $\underline{Remark\,\,1}$ above, we have that $X_n \sim CP(\lambda_n, \eta_n)$ where $\lambda_n = \nu_n(\mathbb R)$ and $d\eta_n(x):= d\nu_n(x)/\lambda_n$. Now, supppose that \begin{equation}\label{II}\tag{II} X_n \Longrightarrow Y, \quad (n\to \infty) \end{equation} where $Y \sim (0, \nu,0)_0$ has characterization given by (\ref{I}).

So, in what situations ( assumptions about $\eta_n$ and $\lambda_n$ ) the convergence given in (\ref{II}) implies that $Y$, with characterization given by (\ref{I}), is in fact a compound Poisson random variable? Or in other sufficient way, when we have $\nu(\mathbb R)< \infty$?.

One trivial case is when $(X_n)$ has the same distribution. I.e. $\eta_n = \eta$ and $\lambda_n = \lambda$ for all $n$. So we exclude this case.

My intuition tells me that it is not possible, given (\ref{II}), to have $\nu(\mathbb R)< \infty$.

Help

Updated remarks

$1.-$ Using the theorem 8.7, page 41, from the Sato's book (reference above)), we have that if $f \in C_\#$ (bounded continuous function vanishing on a neighborhood of $0$), then

$$\lim_{n \to \infty} \int_{\mathbb R} f(x) \underbrace{\lambda_n \eta_n (dx)}_{= \nu_n (dx)} = \int_{\mathbb R} f(x) \nu (dx)$$

So, for any $\epsilon>0$, taking the indicator function $f_\epsilon(x) = \chi_{|x|>\epsilon}(x)= 1 $ if $|x|>\epsilon$ and $0$ other wise, we have

$$\eta_n( E_\epsilon ) \to \nu( E_\epsilon ), \quad E_\epsilon = \{x: |x|>\epsilon\}, \quad (n \to \infty) $$

Could this be a useful way?

After the comment from Christophe Leuridan, we have to take a convenient continuous function and not the indicator function, because it is not continuous.

$2.-$ After the comment from Christophe Leuridan, I think it is necessary to specify that, in general, given a probability measure $\eta$, $Y \sim CP(\lambda, \eta)$ means that: \begin{equation} Y = \sum_{j=1}^N X_j, \quad N\sim \hbox{Poisson}(\lambda), \, X_j\,\, \text{i.i.d.} \sim \eta \end{equation} For more details, see this. Moreover, the characteristic function is:

$$\varphi_Y(z) = \exp\left\{\lambda \int_\mathbb R [e^{izx} - 1] \, d\eta(x) \right\} = \exp\left\{ \lambda \int_\mathbb R e^{izx} \, d\eta(x) - 1 \right\}= \exp\left\{ \lambda [\varphi_\eta(z) - 1] \right\} $$

$3.-$ I had posted this result above, but I don't know if it will help much. However, I will register it here. We know thar every random variable $Y$ is infinitely divisible if and only if there is a sequence $(X_n)_{n \in \mathbb N}$ of compound Poisson random variables such that, in weak limits: \begin{equation}X_n \Longrightarrow Y, \quad (n\to \infty) \end{equation} C.f. Theorem 16.5, page 333, from Klenke, Achim, Probability theory. A comprehensive course. ZBL1295.60001.

$\endgroup$
11
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ A good assumption is that the sequence $(\eta_n(\mathbb{R}))_{n \ge 1}$ is bounded. Without this assumption, you may have non-compound-Poisson distribution at the limit. For example, one can approach $\int_0^\infty \frac{e^{izx-1}}{z^{3/2}}dx$ by $\int_\epsilon^\infty \frac{e^{izx-1}}{z^{3/2}}dx$ as $\epsilon \to 0$. $\endgroup$ Oct 27, 2022 at 18:19
  • $\begingroup$ Note that if $X_n \sim CP(1, \eta_n)$, then $\eta_n$ is a measure, i.e., $\eta_n(\mathbb R)=1$ for all $n$. c.f. Definition 1.2 , page 4 from cutt.ly/dNjXB6z (this definition is for C.P process, but for r.v. is the same) So $(\eta(\mathbb R))_{n \geq 1}$ is bounded, necessarily. $\endgroup$
    – PSE
    Oct 27, 2022 at 18:54
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Sorry, I am not familiar with the notations, and I confused the probability measure $\eta_n$ with $\lambda_n\eta_n$. If I understand correctly, you assume the total mass $\lambda_n$ to be constant. $\endgroup$ Oct 27, 2022 at 20:55
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ My impression is that your first remark gives the answer. Les $f_\epsilon$ be a continuous (hence not an indicator) function vanishing on $[-\epsilon/2,\epsilon/2]$ and equal to 1 on the complement of $]-\epsilon,\epsilon[$. Then $\nu(]-\epsilon,\epsilon[^c) \le \int f_\epsilon d\nu \le 1$. Since it holds for every $\epsilon>0$, $\nu(\mathbb{R}) \le 1$. $\endgroup$ Oct 28, 2022 at 7:41
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Do you assume that $(\lambda_n)$ is bounded or not ? If yes, I think that $\nu$ is necessarily bounded. Otherwise, it may be finite or infinite. $\endgroup$ Oct 29, 2022 at 18:13

1 Answer 1

0
$\begingroup$

I hope I did not make a mistake, but I think it works.

The convergence $$\exp\Big(\int_\mathbb{R} (e^{izx}-1)d\eta_n(x) \Big) \to \exp\Big(\int_\mathbb{R} (e^{izx}-1)d\nu(x)\Big)$$ yields the convergence $$\int_\mathbb{R} (e^{izx}-1)d\eta_n(x) \to \int_\mathbb{R} (e^{izx}-1)d\nu(x).$$ I take the real parts and change the signs to have non-negative functions. $$\int_\mathbb{R} (1-\cos(zx))d\eta_n(x) \to \exp \int_\mathbb{R} (1-\cos(zx))d\nu(x).$$ By Fubini's theorem and Fatou's lemma, for every $T>0$, \begin{eqnarray*} \int_\mathbb{R} (1-(Tx)^{-1}\sin(Tx))d\nu(x) &=& \frac{1}{T}\int_0^T\Big(\int_\mathbb{R} (1-\cos(zx))d\nu(x)\Big)dz \\ &=& \frac{1}{T} \int_0^T \lim_n\Big(\int_\mathbb{R} (1-\cos(zx))d\eta_n(x)\Big)dz \\ &\le& \liminf_n \frac{1}{T}\int_0^T \Big(\int_\mathbb{R} (1-\cos(zx))d\eta_n(x)\Big)dz \\ &=& \liminf_n \int_\mathbb{R} (1-(Tx)^{-1}\sin(Tx))d\eta_n(x) \\ &\le& 1+1/\pi, \end{eqnarray*} since the function sinc is bounded below by $-1/\pi$. Applying Fatou's lemma again, \begin{eqnarray*} \int_\mathbb{R} 1d\nu(x) &\le& \liminf_{T \to +\infty} \int_\mathbb{R} (1-(Tx)^{-1}\sin(Tx))d\nu(x) \\ &\le& \liminf_{T \to +\infty} 1+1/\pi. \end{eqnarray*} Thus $\nu$ is finite. I guess that a refinement of this argument shows that $\nu(\mathbb{R}) \le 1$.

$\endgroup$
5
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ It is a bit unclear to me how you get your second display from the first one, given that $\ln$ has different branches. $\endgroup$ Oct 27, 2022 at 23:45
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @Iosif Pinellis. You are right. In the second display, both sides are continuous functions of $x$ vanishing at $0$, but the convergence is not necessarily uniform on compact sets. $\endgroup$ Oct 28, 2022 at 7:45
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @Iosif Pinellis. Yes, you are right. Although both members are continuous functions vanishing at $0$ (the function $x \mapsto \min(|x|,1)$ is assumed to be $\nu$-integrable), it is not se obvious, since we have not necessarily convergence on compact sets. $\endgroup$ Oct 28, 2022 at 8:06
  • $\begingroup$ Dear, I apologize. I'm actually interested in the case where $\lambda$ is not constant equal to one. I edited the question one more time. I hope it becomes clearer. Sorry. $\endgroup$
    – PSE
    Oct 28, 2022 at 20:05
  • $\begingroup$ Losif Pinelis and Christophe Leuridan, this question is more specific math.stackexchange.com/questions/4576471/… $\endgroup$
    – PSE
    Nov 14, 2022 at 21:52

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.