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5 votes
2 answers
516 views

Anticoncentration of the convolution of two characteristic functions

Edit: This is a question related to my other post, stated in a much more concrete way I think. I am interested in anything (ideas, references) related to the following problem: Suppose that $A \...
Maciej Skorski's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
143 views

Comparison of hitting probability of two Markov chains both with only one absorbing state version 2 under stronger condition

Let $N_n:=\{1,2,\cdots,n\}$. Given two finite states Markov chains $\big(X^{(j)}_i\in N_n\}\big)_{i=0}^\infty$ for $j\in\{1,2\}$, both of which have two absorbing states at $1$ and $n$. $\text{Pr}\...
Hans's user avatar
  • 2,239
19 votes
5 answers
18k views

Time-inhomogeneous Markov chains

I'm trying to find out what is known about time-inhomogeneous ergodic Markov Chains where the transition matrix can vary over time. All textbooks and lecture notes I could find initially introduce ...
markov-imitator's user avatar
12 votes
3 answers
1k views

How to sample a uniform random polyomino?

A polyomino is formed by joining finitely many unit squares edge to edge. It may be regarded as a finite subset of the regular square tiling with a connected interior. In particular, for us, ...
Matthew Kahle's user avatar
8 votes
4 answers
8k views

Is there MDPs (Markov Decision Process) which have a non deterministic optimal policy?

I'm working on Markov Decision Process and I have not found yet an example of MDP that has a stochastic (non deterministic) optimal policy. Is there MDPs that have a stochastic optimal policy or is it ...
Lamine's user avatar
  • 254
7 votes
1 answer
337 views

First Collision Time for k Random Walkers on a Torus

I consider $k$ random walkers on $\mathbb{Z}^{d}/n \mathbb{Z}^{d}$, the $d$-dimensional torus of side length $n$. More precisely, I will define a Markov chain $Z_{t} = (X_{t}[1], \ldots, X_{t}[k])$ ...
AMQS's user avatar
  • 71
7 votes
1 answer
391 views

Idempotent splitting for Markov kernels

Let $X$ be a standard Borel space and $e : X \to X$ a Markov kernel. Suppose that $e$ is idempotent, that is $e \circ e = e$, or written out using the Chapman-Kolmogorov equation, $$e(A|x) = \int_X e(...
Tobias Fritz's user avatar
  • 6,406
4 votes
0 answers
589 views

Optimal transport between two distributions in a Markov chain

In a previous question, given an ergodic Markov chain, I'm interesting in sampling as short a path as possible with prescribed distributions for its endpoints. In a comment, I propose that the ...
dohmatob's user avatar
  • 6,853
3 votes
2 answers
973 views

How much larger than the relaxation time can the mixing time be?

The notation is mostly taken from the book "Markov chains and mixing times" by Levin, Peres, and Wilmer. Consider an irreducible, aperiodic, time-reversible, discrete-time Markov chain on a finite ...
Hedonist's user avatar
  • 1,269
3 votes
1 answer
281 views

Drunkards Uphill Walk

An urn is filled with n black and n white balls. Do the following Markov process: 1. Draw ball, memorize color, throw it back. 2. Draw another ball (might be the same!), color it with memorized color, ...
Hauke Reddmann's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
494 views

Maximization of a total variation distance subject to another total variation distance in Markov chain

Suppose two dependent random variables $X$ and $V$ from finite alphabets $\mathcal{V}$ and $\mathcal{X}$ with known joint and marginal distributions are given. Let $P_{XV}$ and $P_X$ and $P_V$ are the ...
math-Student's user avatar
  • 1,109
3 votes
2 answers
264 views

Probability of one species reaching zero before the other in a Markov process on a 2d lattice

$\textbf{Background}$: Say we've got a two-variable system of stochastic chemical reactions, with quantities $\vec{x}(t) = (x_1(t),x_2(t)) \in \mathbb{N}^2$ evolving according to the following system, ...
Bianca's user avatar
  • 41
2 votes
1 answer
640 views

Reachability for Markov process

Let $X$ be a Markov process (in continuous or discrete time) and define an event $$ R(T,A) = (\exists t\leq T: X_t \in A). $$ I have seen in one paper that $$ \Pr[R(\infty,A)] = \sup\limits_{\tau} \...
SBF's user avatar
  • 1,655
1 vote
1 answer
121 views

Characterization of Fellerian kernels

This question concerns Feller Markov kernels, similar to Vanessa's question. Terminology By 'Markov kernel' $N:E\to F$, we adopt exactly the same definition as Vanessa, with the exception that $E,F$ ...
Hirofumi Shiba's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
352 views

Double Markovity

Suppose we have a double Markov relation for three random variables $X$, $Y$ and $W$ as follows $$X\to W\to Y,$$ and $$X\to Y\to W.$$ How to prove that there exist functions $f$ and $g$ such that $$...
math-Student's user avatar
  • 1,109
1 vote
1 answer
127 views

Almost certain extinction for a Markov Jump Process

I'm studying a simplification of a biological neuron model with $n$ neurons. We are describing the evolution of the membrane potential of each neuron. Let $(X_t)_{t\geq 0}$ be a Markov Jump Process in ...
Max's user avatar
  • 203
1 vote
1 answer
561 views

What do you call a Markov kernel continuous w.r.t. the weak topology?

Let $X$ and $Y$ be Polish spaces and $K$ a Markov kernel from $X$ to $Y$. That is, $K$ is a mapping $X \times \mathcal{B}_Y \rightarrow [0,1]$ (where $\mathcal{B}_Y$ is the $\sigma$-algebra of Borel ...
Vanessa's user avatar
  • 1,368
1 vote
1 answer
119 views

Comparison of hitting probability of two Markov chains both with only one absorbing state

Let $N_n:=\{1,2,\cdots,n\}$. Given two finite states Markov chains $\big(X^{(j)}_i\in N_n\}\big)_{i=0}^\infty$ for $j\in\{1,2\}$, both of which have one absorbing state $1$. Pr$(X^{(1)}_{i+1}=1|X_i=1)...
Hans's user avatar
  • 2,239
0 votes
1 answer
262 views

Construction of a Markov process with prescribed local behavior and state-dependent jump distribution

Let $(E,\mathcal E)$ be a measurable space $\mathcal E_b:=\left\{f:E\to\mathbb R\mid f\text{ is bounded and }\mathcal E\text{-measurable}\right\}$ $(\kappa_t)_{t\ge0}$ be a Markov semigroup on $(E,\...
0xbadf00d's user avatar
  • 167
0 votes
1 answer
95 views

If a probability measure is stationary in both forward time and reverse time, does this imply that the measure is incompressible?

Let $(\Omega,\mathcal{F},\mathbb{P})$ be a probability space and let $X$ be a compact metric space. Let $F \colon \Omega \times X \to X$ and $\bar{F} \colon \Omega \times X \to X$ be measurable ...
Julian Newman's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
82 views

In smooth stochastic dynamics, if a Lebesgue-like measure is both forward-time and reverse-time stationary, is the measure necessarily incompressible?

Let $(\Omega,\mathcal{F},\mathbb{P})$ be a probability space and let $X$ be a compact connected $C^\infty$-smooth manifold. Let $F \colon \Omega \times X \to X$ and $\bar{F} \colon \Omega \times X \to ...
Julian Newman's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
96 views

What is the significance of Blumenthal and Getoor's result on the boundedness of paths of a standard Markov process?

In the book Markov processes and Potential Theory of Blumenthal and Getoor we can find the following result: I don't understand the significance of this result. If I don't misinterpret the assertion, ...
0xbadf00d's user avatar
  • 167
-1 votes
1 answer
370 views

What's the probability of two independent events in time domain?

Suppose there are two independent events A and B. The probability that A or ...
oleotiger's user avatar