Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T09:42:47.116Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

An invariance principle for semi-Markov processes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2016

D. McDonald*
Affiliation:
University of Ottawa
*
Postal address: Department of Mathematics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada KIN 9B4.

Abstract

Let (I(t))t = () be a semi-Markov process with state space II and recurrent probability transition kernel P. Subject to certain mixing conditions, where Δis an invariant probability measure for P and μb is the expected sojourn time in state b ϵΠ. We show that this limit is robust; that is, for each state b ϵ Πthe sojourn-time distribution may change for each transition, but, as long as the expected sojourn time in b is µb on the average, the above limit still holds. The kernel P may also vary for each transition as long as Δis invariant.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Applied Probability Trust 1985 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Research supported by the National Research Council of Canada.

References

1. Arjas, E., Nummelin, E. and Tweedie, R. (1978) Uniform limit theorems for non-singular renewal and Markov renewal processes. J. Appl. Prob. 15, 112125.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2. Berbee, H. C. P. (1979) Random Walks with Stationary Increments and Renewal Theory. Mathematical Center Tracts, Amsterdam.Google Scholar
3. Dobrushin, R. L. (1956) Central limit theorems for non-stationary Markov chains. Theory Prob. Appl. 1, 6580.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4. Doob, J. L. (1953) Stochastic Processes. Wiley, New York.Google Scholar
5. Mcdonald, D. (1978) On semi-Markov and semi-regenerative processes I. Z. Wahrscheinlichkeitsth. 42, 261277.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6. Mcdonald, D. (1978) On semi-Markov and semi-regenerative processes II. Ann. Prob. 6, 9951014.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7. Mcdonald, D. (1979) Ergodic behaviour of nonstationary regenerative processes. Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 255, 135152.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8. Pitman, J. W. (1974) Uniform rates of convergence for Markov chain transition probabilities. Z. Wahrscheinlichkeitsth. 29, 193227.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9. Revesz, P. (1968) The Laws of Large Numbers. Academic Press, New York.Google Scholar