This textbook offers an approachable introduction to stochastic processes that explores the four pillars of random walk, branching processes, Brownian motion, and martingales. 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.

Consisting of many short chapters, the book begins with a comprehensive account of the simple random walk in one dimension. From here, different paths may be chosen according to interest. Themes span Poisson processes, branching processes, the Kolmogorov-Chentsov theorem, martingales, renewal theory, and Brownian motion. Special topics follow, showcasing a selection of important contemporary applications, including mathematical finance, optimal stopping, ruin theory, branching random walk, and equations of fluids. Engaging exercises accompany the theorythroughout.

Random Walk, Brownian Motion, and Martingales is an ideal introduction to the rigorous study of stochastic processes. Students and instructors alike will appreciate the accessible, example-driven approach. A single, graduate-level course in probability is assumed.

Autorentext

Rabi Bhattacharya is Professor of Mathematics at The University of Arizona. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics and a recipient of the U.S. Senior Scientist Humboldt Award and of a Guggenheim Fellowship. He has made significant contributions to the theory and application of Markov processes, and more recently, nonparametric statistical inference on manifolds. He has served on editorial boards of many international journals and has published several research monographs and graduate texts on probability and statistics.

Edward C. Waymire is Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at Oregon State University. He received a PhD in mathematics from the University of Arizona in the theory of interacting particle systems. His primary research concerns applications of probability and stochastic processes to problems of contemporary applied mathematics pertaining to various types of flows, dispersion, and random disorder. He is a former chief editor of the Annals of Applied Probability, and past president of the Bernoulli Society for Mathematical Statistics and Probability.

Both authors have co-authored numerous books, including A Basic Course in Probability Theory, which is an ideal companion to the current volume.

Inhalt

1. What is a Stochastic Process?.- 2. The Simple Random Walk I: Associated Boundary Value Distributions, Transience and Recurrence.- 3. The Simple Random Walk II: First Passage Times.- 4. Multidimensional Random Walk.- 5. The Poisson Process, Compound Poisson Process, and Poisson Random Field.- 6. The Kolmogorov-Chentsov Theorem and Sample Path Regularity.- 7. Random Walk, Brownian Motion and the Strong Markov Property.- 8. Coupling Methods for Markov Chains and the Renewal Theorem for Lattice Distributions.- 9. Bienyamé-Galton-Watson Simple Branching Process and Extinction.- 10. Martingales: Definitions and Examples.- 11. Optional Stopping of (Sub)Martingales.- 12. The Upcrossings Inequality and (Sub)Martingale Convergence.- 13.- Continuous Parameter Martingales.- 14. Growth of Supercritical Bienyamé-Galton-Watson Simple Branching Processes.- 15. Stochastic Calculus for Point Processes and a Martingale Characterization of the Poisson Process.- 16. First Passage Time Distributions for Brownian Motion with Drift and a Local Limit Theorem.- 17. The Functional Central Limit Theorem (FCLT).- 18. ArcSine Law Asymptotics.- 19. Brownian Motion on the Half-Line: Absorption and Reflection.- 20. The Brownian Bridge.- 21. Special Topic: Branching Random Walk, Polymers and Multiplicative Cascades.- 22. Special Topic: Bienyamé-Galton-Watson Simple Branching Process and Excursions.- 23. Special Topic: The Geometric Random Walk and the Binomial Tree Model of Mathematical Finance.- 24. Special Topic: Optimal Stopping Rules.- 25. Special Topic: A Comprehensive Renewal Theory for General Random Walks.- 26. Special Topic: Ruin Problems in Insurance.- 27. Special Topic: Fractional Brownian Motion and/or Trends: The Hurst Effect.- 28. Special Topic: Incompressible Navier-Stokes Equations and the LeJan-Sznitman Cascade.- References.- Related Textbooks and Monographs.- Symbol Definition List.- Name Index.- Index.