Probability Commons^™

Convergence Of Random Walks On The Circle Generated By An Irrational Rotation, Francis E. Su

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

Fix . Consider the random walk on the circle which proceeds by repeatedly rotating points forward or backward, with probability , by an angle . This paper analyzes the rate of convergence of this walk to the uniform distribution under ``discrepancy'' distance. The rate depends on the continued fraction properties of the number . We obtain bounds for rates when is any irrational, and a sharp rate when is a quadratic irrational. In that case the discrepancy falls as (up to constant factors), where is the number of steps in the walk. This is the first example of a sharp …

Infinite-Dimensional Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman Equations In Gauss-Sobolev Spaces, Pao-Liu Chow, Jose-Luis Menaldi

Mathematics Faculty Research Publications

We consider the strong solution of a semi linear HJB equation associated with a stochastic optimal control in a Hilbert space H: By strong solution we mean a solution in a L²(μ,H)-Sobolev space setting. Within this framework, the present problem can be treated in a similar fashion to that of a finite-dimensional case. Of independent interest, a related linear problem with unbounded coefficient is studied and an application to the stochastic control of a reaction-diffusion equation will be given.

Lyapunov Exponents Of Linear Stochastic Functional-Differential Equations. Ii. Examples And Case Studies, Salah-Eldin A. Mohammed, Michael K. R. Scheutzow

Articles and Preprints

We give several examples and examine case studies of linear stochastic functional differential equations. The examples fall into two broad classes: regular and singular, according to whether an underlying stochastic semi-flow exists or not. In the singular case, we obtain upper and lower bounds on the maximal exponential growth rate $\overlineλ₁$(σ) of the trajectories expressed in terms of the noise variance σ . Roughly speaking we show that for small σ, $\overlineλ₁$(σ) behaves like -σ² /2, while for large σ, it grows like logσ. In the regular case, it is shown that a discrete Oseledec …

Some Applications Of Sophisticated Mathematics To Randomized Computing, Ronald I. Greenberg

Computer Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

No abstract provided.

Population Genetics: Estimation Of Distributions Through Systems Of Non-Linear Differential Equations, Nacer E. Abrouk, Robert J. Lopez

Mathematical Sciences Technical Reports (MSTR)

In stochastic population genetics, the fundamental quantity used for describing the genetic composition of a Mendelian population is the gene frequency. The process of change in the gene frequency is generally modeled as a stochastic process satisfying a stochastic differential equation. The drift and diffusion coefficients in this equation reflect such mechanisms as mutation, selection, and migration that affect the population. Except in very simple cases, it is difficult to determine the probability law of the stochastic process of change in gene frequency. We present a method for obtaining approximations of this process, enabling us to study models more realistic …

Smooth Densities For Degenerate Stochastic Delay Equations With Hereditary Drift, Denis R. Bell, Salah-Eldin A. Mohammed

Articles and Preprints

We establish the existence of smooth densities for solutions of R^d-valued stochastic hereditary differential systems of the form

dx(t) = H(t,x)dt + g(t, x(t - r))dW(t).

In the above equation, W is an n-dimensional Wiener process, r is a positive time delay, H is a nonanticipating functional defined on the space of paths in R^d and g is an n x d matrix-valued function defined on [0, ∞) x R^d, such that gg^* has …

Approximation Methods For Singular Diffusions Arising In Genetics, Nacer E. Abrouk

Mathematical Sciences Technical Reports (MSTR)

Stochastic models in population genetics leading to diffusion equations are considered. When the drift and the square of the diffusion coefficients are polynomials, an infinite system of ordinary differential equations for the moments of the diffusion process can be derived using the Martingale property. An example is provided to show how the classical Fokker-Planck Equation approach may not be appropriate for this derivation. A Gauss-Galerkin method for approximating the laws of the diffusion, originally proposed by Dawson (1980), is examined. In the few special cases for which exact solutions are known, comparison shows that the method is accurate and the …

Shadow Casting Phenomena At Newgrange, Frank Prendergast

Articles

A digital model of the Newgrange passage tomb and surrounding ring of monoliths known as the Great Circle is used to investigate sunrise shadow casting phenomena at the monument. Diurnal variation in shadow directions and lengths are analysed for their potential use in the Bronze Age to indicate the passage of seasonal time. Computer-aided simulations are developed from a photogrammetric survey to accurately show how three of the largest monoliths, located closest to the tomb entrance and archaeologically coded GC1, GC-1 and GC-2, cast their shadows onto the vertical face of the entrance kerbstone, coded K1. The phenomena occur at …

Estimation In A Marked Poisson Error Recapture Model Of Software Reliability, Rajan Gupta

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

Nayak's (1988) model for the detection, removal, and recapture of the errors in a computer program is extended to a larger family of models in which the probabilities that the successive programs produce errors are described by the tail probabilities of discrete distribution on the positive integers. Confidence limits are derived for the probability that the final program produces errors. A comparison of the asymptotic variances of parameter estimates given by the error recapture and by the repetitive-run procedure of Nagel, Scholz, and Skrivan (1982) is made to determine which of these procedures efficiently uses the test time.

Limit Theorems In The Area Of Large Deviations For Some Dependent Random Variables, Narasinga Rao Chaganty, Jayaram Sethuraman

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

A magnetic body can be considered to consist of n sites, where n is large. The magnetic spins at these n sites, whose sum is the total magnetization present in the body, can be modelled by a triangular array of random variables (X(n) 1,..., X(n) n). Standard theory of physics would dictate that the joint distribution of the spins can be modelled by dQ_n(x) = z_n^-1 exp[ -H_n(x)]Π dP(x_j), where x = (x₁,..., x_n) ∈ Rⁿ, where H_n is the Hamiltonian, z_n is …

On The First Passage Time Distribution For A Class Of Markov Chains, Mark Brown, Narasinga Rao Chaganty

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

Consider a stochastically monotone chain with monotone paths on a partially ordered countable set S. Let C be an increasing subset of S with finite complement. Then the first passage-time from i ∈ S to C is shown to be IFRA (increasing failure rate on the,av;rage). Several applications are presented including coherent systems, shock models, and convolutions of IFRA distributions.