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Suppose $\sigma_{1},\sigma_{2},...$are i.i.d random variables.$S_{0}=0$. Define $S_{n}=S_{0}+\sum_{i=1}^{n}\sigma_{i}$, then ${S_{n}}$ is a Markovian random walk.

I want to figure out the necessary sufficient condition for $S_{n}$ to be recurrent.

It seems natural that if $\mu = E(\sigma_{1})\neq0$, $S_{n}$ must be trasient (By central-limit theorem, $S_{n} \rightarrow N(n\mu,n^{2}\sigma^{2})$ and the chance for $S_{n}$ to return $0$ decays exponentially, so $E_{0}(V_{0}) = \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}P_{0}({S_{n}=0}) < \infty$).

And that makes $\mu=0$ a necessary requirement, which seems natural, too.

But the question is, is it sufficient? How to prove it or find a counter example? Are there any other properties equivalent to the recurrence of $S_{n}$?

Only the sketch of the proof is necessary should it be too long or too complicated (detailed proof can be provided by book references or external links). Some intuitive remarks are most appreciated.

************************** Update on 4/8/2016 ***************************

It seems that I forgot to mention the type of $\sigma_{n}$, some specifications are expected in subsequent answers(one of the two following):

  1. $\sigma_{n}$ is discrete, i.e. $\sigma_{n} \in \mathbb{Z}$
  2. $\sigma_{n}$ is continuous, i.e. $\sigma_{n} \in \mathbb{R}$
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2 Answers 2

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The answer to your question is given in Feller's book (Introduction to Probability Theory and its applications), Volume 2, Chapter 6, Section on persistent and transient random walks. In my edition, this is Chapter 6.X, Theorems 3 and 4.

Theorem 4 says that a random walk with zero mean is persistent.

Theorem 3 says that a persistent random walk visits every interval infinitely often in the non-arithmetic case and gives the corresponding statement for arithmetic random walk.

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No, it's not sufficient, you need assumptions on the tails of $\sigma$'s. See Chapter 5 of http://www.ime.unicamp.br/~popov/book_lyapunov.pdf

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  • $\begingroup$ Thank you for your prompt answer. However I was more concerned in the case where ${\sigma_{n}}$ are discrete. What's the corresponding result under this assumption? $\endgroup$
    – Lotayou
    Apr 8, 2016 at 5:59
  • $\begingroup$ Essentially, Chapter 5 covers both discrete and continuous cases. For example, Theorem 5.3.1 is formulated in the continuous case, but (as noted there in the text) the results in the discrete case are the same. Up to Section 5.2, the results are general (the chain lives on a set $\Sigma$, which can be $\mathbb{R}$ or $\mathbb{Z}$). $\endgroup$ Apr 8, 2016 at 13:23

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