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An age dependent branching process with variable lifetime distribution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2016

Robert Fildes
Robert Fildes*
Affiliation:
Manchester Business School, University of Manchester
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Abstract

A branching process with variable lifetime distribution is defined by a sequence of distribution functions {Gi(t)}, together with a probability generating function, h(s) = Σk∞= 0pksk. An ith generation particle lives a random length of time, determined by Gi(t). At the end of a particle's life it produces children, the number being determined by h(s). These offspring behave like the initial particle except they are (i + 1)th generation particles and have lifetime distribution Gi + 1 (t).

Let Zi(t) be the number of particles alive at time t, the initial particle being born into the ith generation. Integral equations are derived for the moments of Zi(t) and it is shown that for some constants Ni, γ, a, Zi (t)/(Nitγ-1eαt) converges in mean square to a proper random variable.

Keywords

AGE-DEPENDENTBRANCHING PROCESSMULTI-TYPEVARIABLE LIFETIMEGENERATIONBELLMAN-HARRIS
Type
Research Article
Information
Advances in Applied Probability , Volume 4 , Issue 3 , December 1972 , pp. 453 - 474
Copyright
Copyright © Applied Probability Trust 1972 

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