This textbook explores two distinct stochastic processes that evolve at random: weakly stationary processes and discrete parameter Markov processes. Building from simple examples, the authors focus on developing context and intuition before formalizing the theory of each topic. This inviting approach illuminates the key ideas and computations in the proofs, forming an ideal basis for further study. After recapping the essentials from Fourier analysis, the book begins with an introduction to the spectral representation of a stationary process. Topics in ergodic theory follow, including Birkhoff’s Ergodic Theorem and an introduction to dynamical systems. From here, the Markov property is assumed and the theory of discrete parameter Markov processes is explored on a general state space. Chapters cover a variety of topics, including birth–death chains, hitting probabilities and absorption, the representation of Markov processes as iterates of random maps, and large deviation theory for Markov processes. A chapter on geometric rates of convergence to equilibrium includes a splitting condition that captures the recurrence structure of certain iterated maps in a novel way. A selection of special topics concludes the book, including applications of large deviation theory, the FKG inequalities, coupling methods, and the Kalman filter. Featuring many short chapters and a modular design, this textbook offers an in-depth study of stationary and discrete-time Markov processes. Students and instructors alike will appreciate the accessible, example-driven approach and engaging exercises throughout. A single, graduate-level course in probability is assumed.

From the reviews: J. Neveu, 1962 in Zentralblatt fr Mathematik, 92. Band Heft 2, p. 343: "Ce livre crit par l'un des plus minents spcialistes en la matire, est un expos trs dtaill de la thorie des processus de Markov dfinis sur un espace dnombrable d'tats et homognes dans le temps (chaines stationnaires de Markov)." N. Jain, 2008 in Selected Works of Kai Lai Chung, edited by Farid AitSahlia (University of Florida, USA), Elton Hsu (Northwestern University, USA), & Ruth Williams (University of California-San Diego, USA), Chapter 1, p. 15: "This monograph deals with countable state Markov chains in both discrete time (Part I) and continuous time (Part II). ... Much of Kai Lai's fundamental work in the field is included in this monograph. Here, for the first time, Kai Lai gave a systematic exposition of the subject which includes classification of states, ratio ergodic theorems, and limit theorems for functionals of the chain."

This book is concerned with a set of related problems in probability theory that are considered in the context of Markov processes. Some of these are natural to consider, especially for Markov processes. Other problems have a broader range of validity but are convenient to pose for Markov processes. The book can be used as the basis for an interesting course on Markov processes or stationary processes. For the most part these questions are considered for discrete parameter processes, although they are also of obvious interest for continuous time parameter processes. This allows one to avoid the delicate measure theoretic questions that might arise in the continuous parameter case. There is an attempt to motivate the material in terms of applications. Many of the topics concern general questions of structure and representation of processes that have not previously been presented in book form. A set of notes comment on the many problems that are still left open and related material in the literature. It is also hoped that the book will be useful as a reference to the reader who would like an introduction to these topics as well as to the reader interested in extending and completing results of this type.

Markov processes are processes that have limited memory. In particular, their dependence on the past is only through the previous state. They are used to model the behavior of many systems including communications systems, transportation networks, image segmentation and analysis, biological systems and DNA sequence analysis, random atomic motion and diffusion in physics, social mobility, population studies, epidemiology, animal and insect migration, queueing systems, resource management, dams, financial engineering, actuarial science, and decision systems. Covering a wide range of areas of application of Markov processes, this second edition is revised to highlight the most important aspects as well as the most recent trends and applications of Markov processes. The author spent over 16 years in the industry before returning to academia, and he has applied many of the principles covered in this book in multiple research projects. Therefore, this is an applications-oriented book that also includes enough theory to provide a solid ground in the subject for the reader. - Presents both the theory and applications of the different aspects of Markov processes - Includes numerous solved examples as well as detailed diagrams that make it easier to understand the principle being presented - Discusses different applications of hidden Markov models, such as DNA sequence analysis and speech analysis.

Stochastic processes are mathematical models of random phenomena that evolve according to prescribed dynamics. Processes commonly used in applications are Markov chains in discrete and continuous time, renewal and regenerative processes, Poisson processes, and Brownian motion. This volume gives an in-depth description of the structure and basic properties of these stochastic processes. A main focus is on equilibrium distributions, strong laws of large numbers, and ordinary and functional central limit theorems for cost and performance parameters. Although these results differ for various processes, they have a common trait of being limit theorems for processes with regenerative increments. Extensive examples and exercises show how to formulate stochastic models of systems as functions of a system’s data and dynamics, and how to represent and analyze cost and performance measures. Topics include stochastic networks, spatial and space-time Poisson processes, queueing, reversible processes, simulation, Brownian approximations, and varied Markovian models. The technical level of the volume is between that of introductory texts that focus on highlights of applied stochastic processes, and advanced texts that focus on theoretical aspects of processes.

Building upon the previous editions, this textbook is a first course in stochastic processes taken by undergraduate and graduate students (MS and PhD students from math, statistics, economics, computer science, engineering, and finance departments) who have had a course in probability theory. It covers Markov chains in discrete and continuous time, Poisson processes, renewal processes, martingales, and option pricing. One can only learn a subject by seeing it in action, so there are a large number of examples and more than 300 carefully chosen exercises to deepen the reader’s understanding. Drawing from teaching experience and student feedback, there are many new examples and problems with solutions that use TI-83 to eliminate the tedious details of solving linear equations by hand, and the collection of exercises is much improved, with many more biological examples. Originally included in previous editions, material too advanced for this first course in stochastic processes has been eliminated while treatment of other topics useful for applications has been expanded. In addition, the ordering of topics has been improved; for example, the difficult subject of martingales is delayed until its usefulness can be applied in the treatment of mathematical finance.

This graduate text presents the elegant and profound theory of continuous parameter Markov processes and many of its applications. The authors focus on developing context and intuition before formalizing the theory of each topic, illustrated with examples. After a review of some background material, the reader is introduced to semigroup theory, including the Hille–Yosida Theorem, used to construct continuous parameter Markov processes. Illustrated with examples, it is a cornerstone of Feller’s seminal theory of the most general one-dimensional diffusions studied in a later chapter. This is followed by two chapters with probabilistic constructions of jump Markov processes, and processes with independent increments, or Lévy processes. The greater part of the book is devoted to Itô’s fascinating theory of stochastic differential equations, and to the study of asymptotic properties of diffusions in all dimensions, such as explosion, transience, recurrence, existence of steady states, and the speed of convergence to equilibrium. A broadly applicable functional central limit theorem for ergodic Markov processes is presented with important examples. Intimate connections between diffusions and linear second order elliptic and parabolic partial differential equations are laid out in two chapters, and are used for computational purposes. Among Special Topics chapters, two study anomalous diffusions: one on skew Brownian motion, and the other on an intriguing multi-phase homogenization of solute transport in porous media.

Aims At The Level Between That Of Elementary Probability Texts And Advanced Works On Stochastic Processes. The Pre-Requisites Are A Course On Elementary Probability Theory And Statistics, And A Course On Advanced Calculus. The Theoretical Results Developed Have Been Followed By A Large Number Of Illustrative Examples. These Have Been Supplemented By Numerous Exercises, Answers To Most Of Which Are Also Given. It Will Suit As A Text For Advanced Undergraduate, Postgraduate And Research Level Course In Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Operations Research, Computer Science, Different Branches Of Engineering, Telecommunications, Business And Management, Economics, Life Sciences And So On. A Review Of The Book In American Mathematical Monthly (December 82) Gives This Book Special Positive Emphasis As A Textbook As Follows: 'Of The Dozen Or More Texts Published In The Last Five Years Aimed At The Students With A Background Of A First Course In Probability And Statistics But Not Yet To Measure Theory, This Is The Clear Choice. An Extremely Well Organized, Lucidly Written Text With Numerous Problems, Examples And Reference T* (With T* Where T Denotes Textbook And * Denotes Special Positive Emphasis). The Current Enlarged And Revised Edition, While Retaining The Structure And Adhering To The Objective As Well As Philosophy Of The Earlier Edition, Removes The Deficiencies, Updates The Material And The References And Aims At A Border Perspective With Substantial Additions And Wider Coverage.

This open access book shows how to use sensitivity analysis in demography. It presents new methods for individuals, cohorts, and populations, with applications to humans, other animals, and plants. The analyses are based on matrix formulations of age-classified, stage-classified, and multistate population models. Methods are presented for linear and nonlinear, deterministic and stochastic, and time-invariant and time-varying cases. Readers will discover results on the sensitivity of statistics of longevity, life disparity, occupancy times, the net reproductive rate, and statistics of Markov chain models in demography. They will also see applications of sensitivity analysis to population growth rates, stable population structures, reproductive value, equilibria under immigration and nonlinearity, and population cycles. Individual stochasticity is a theme throughout, with a focus that goes beyond expected values to include variances in demographic outcomes. The calculations are easily and accurately implemented in matrix-oriented programming languages such as Matlab or R. Sensitivity analysis will help readers create models to predict the effect of future changes, to evaluate policy effects, and to identify possible evolutionary responses to the environment. Complete with many examples of the application, the book will be of interest to researchers and graduate students in human demography and population biology. The material will also appeal to those in mathematical biology and applied mathematics.

This book presents various results and techniques from the theory of stochastic processes that are useful in the study of stochastic problems in the natural sciences. The main focus is analytical methods, although numerical methods and statistical inference methodologies for studying diffusion processes are also presented. The goal is the development of techniques that are applicable to a wide variety of stochastic models that appear in physics, chemistry and other natural sciences. Applications such as stochastic resonance, Brownian motion in periodic potentials and Brownian motors are studied and the connection between diffusion processes and time-dependent statistical mechanics is elucidated. The book contains a large number of illustrations, examples, and exercises. It will be useful for graduate-level courses on stochastic processes for students in applied mathematics, physics and engineering. Many of the topics covered in this book (reversible diffusions, convergence to equilibrium for diffusion processes, inference methods for stochastic differential equations, derivation of the generalized Langevin equation, exit time problems) cannot be easily found in textbook form and will be useful to both researchers and students interested in the applications of stochastic processes.