Stochastic viscosity solutions for nonlinear stochastic partial differential equations. Part I

This paper, together with the accompanying work (Part II, Stochastic Process. Appl. 93 (2001) 205–228) is an attempt to extend the notion of viscosity solution to nonlinear stochastic partial differential equations. We introduce a definition of stochastic viscosity solution in the spirit of its deterministic counterpart, with special consideration given to the stochastic integrals. We show that a stochastic PDE can be converted to a PDE with random coefficients via a Doss–Sussmann-type transformation, so that a stochastic viscosity solution can be defined in a “point-wise” manner. Using the recently developed theory on backward/backward doubly stochastic differential equations, we prove the existence of the stochastic viscosity solution, and further extend the nonlinear Feynman–Kac formula. Some properties of the stochastic viscosity solution will also be studied in this paper. The uniqueness of the stochastic viscosity solution will be addressed separately in Part II where the relation between the stochastic viscosity solution and the ω-wise, “deterministic” viscosity solution to the PDE with random coefficients will be established.     

Existence and uniqueness of solutions to neutral stochastic functional differential equations with infinite delay

This paper investigates the existence and uniqueness theorem of solutions to neutral stochastic differential equations with infinite delay (short for INSFDEs) at a space BC((-∞,0];R^d). Under the uniform Lipschitz condition, linear growth condition is weaken to obtain the moment estimate of the solution for INSFDEs. Furthermore, the existence, uniqueness theorem of the solution for INSFDEs is derived, and the estimate for the error between approximate solution and exact solution is given. On the other hand, under the linear growth condition, the uniform Lipschitz condition is replaced by the local Lipschitz condition, the existence, uniqueness theorem is also valid for INSFDEs on [t₀,T]. Moreover, the existence, uniqueness theorem still holds on interval [t₀,∞), where t₀∈R is an arbitrary real number.     

Doubly reflected BSDEs driven by a Lévy process

In this paper, we show the existence and uniqueness of the solution for a class of doubly reflected backward stochastic differential equations driven by a Lévy process (DRBSDELs in short) by means of the penalization method as well as the fixed point theorem. In addition, we obtain the comparison theorem for the solutions of DRBSDELs. As an application, we give a probabilistic formula for the viscosity solution of a class of partial differential-integral equations (PDIEs in short) with two obstacles.     

Stochastic scalar conservation laws

We introduce a notion of stochastic entropic solution à la Kruzkov, but with Ito's calculus replacing deterministic calculus. This results in a rich family of stochastic inequalities defining what we mean by a solution. A uniqueness theory is then developed following a stochastic generalization of L¹ contraction estimate. An existence theory is also developed by adapting compensated compactness arguments to stochastic setting. We use approximating models of vanishing viscosity solution type for the construction. While the uniqueness result applies to any spatial dimensions, the existence result, in the absence of special structural assumptions, is restricted to one spatial dimension only.     

Viscosity Solutions of Systems of PDEs with Interconnected Obstacles and Switching Problem

This paper deals with existence and uniqueness of a solution in viscosity sense, for a system of m variational partial differential inequalities with inter-connected obstacles. A particular case is the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellmann system of the Markovian stochastic optimal m-states switching problem. The switching cost functions depend on (t,x). The main tool is the notion of systems of reflected backward stochastic differential equations with oblique reflection.     

Anticipated backward stochastic differential equations with non-Lipschitz coefficients

This paper deals with a class of anticipated backward stochastic differential equations. We extend results of Peng and Yang (2009) to the case in which the generator satisfies non-Lipschitz condition. The existence and uniqueness of solutions for anticipated backward stochastic differential equations as well as a comparison theorem are obtained. The existence and uniqueness of L^p(p>2) solutions for anticipated backward stochastic differential equations are also studied.     

Generalized reflected BSDEs driven by a Lévy process and an obstacle problem for PDIEs with a nonlinear Neumann boundary condition

In this paper, we derive the existence and uniqueness of the solution for a class of generalized reflected backward stochastic differential equations (GRBSDEs in short) driven by a Lévy process, which involve the integral with respect to a continuous process by means of the Snell envelope, the penalization method and the fixed point theorem. In addition, we obtain the comparison theorem for the solutions of the GRBSDEs. As an application, we give a probabilistic formula for the viscosity solution of an obstacle problem for a class of partial differential-integral equations (PDIEs in short) with a nonlinear Neumann boundary condition.     

Reflected forward–backward stochastic differential equations and related PDEs

In this article, we study a type of coupled reflected forward–backward stochastic differential equations (reflected FBSDEs, for short) with continuous coefficients, including the existence and the uniqueness of the solution of our reflected FBSDEs as well as the comparison theorem. We prove that the solution of our reflected FBSDEs gives a probabilistic interpretation for the viscosity solution of an obstacle problem for a quasilinear parabolic partial differential equation.     

Representation Theorem for Generators of Quadratic BSDEs

In this paper, we establish a general representation theorem for generator of backward stochastic differential equation (BSDE), whose generator has a quadratic growth in z. As some applications, we obtain a general converse comparison theorem of such quadratic BSDEs and uniqueness theorem, translation invariance for quadratic g-expectation.     

The adapted solution and comparison theorem for backward stochastic differential equations with Poisson jumps and applications

This paper deals with a class of backward stochastic differential equations with Poisson jumps and with random terminal times. We prove the existence and uniqueness result of adapted solution for such a BSDE under the assumption of non-Lipschitzian coefficient. We also derive two comparison theorems by applying a general Girsanov theorem and the linearized technique on the coefficient. By these we first show the existence and uniqueness of minimal solution for one-dimensional BSDE with jumps when its coefficient is continuous and has a linear growth. Then we give a general Feynman-Kac formula for a class of parabolic types of second-order partial differential and integral equations (PDIEs) by using the solution of corresponding BSDE with jumps. Finally, we exploit above Feynman-Kac formula and related comparison theorem to provide a probabilistic formula for the viscosity solution of a quasi-linear PDIE of parabolic type.     

BSDES IN GAMES,COUPLED WITH THE VALUE FUNCTIONS. ASSOCIATED NONLOCAL BELLMAN-ISAACS EQUATIONS

We establish a new type of backward stochastic differential equations(BSDEs)connected with stochastic differential games(SDGs), namely, BSDEs strongly coupled with the lower and the upper value functions of SDGs, where the lower and the upper value functions are defined through this BSDE. The existence and the uniqueness theorem and comparison theorem are proved for such equations with the help of an iteration method. We also show that the lower and the upper value functions satisfy the dynamic programming principle. Moreover, we study the associated Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman-Isaacs(HJB-Isaacs)equations, which are nonlocal, and strongly coupled with the lower and the upper value functions. Using a new method, we characterize the pair(W, U) consisting of the lower and the upper value functions as the unique viscosity solution of our nonlocal HJB-Isaacs equation. Furthermore, the game has a value under the Isaacs' condition.     

One-dimensional BSDEs with finite and infinite time horizons

This paper is devoted to solving one-dimensional backward stochastic differential equations (BSDEs), where the time horizon may be finite or infinite and the assumptions on the generator g are not necessary to be uniform on t. We first show the existence of the minimal solution for this kind of BSDEs with linear growth generators. Then, we establish a general comparison theorem for solutions of this kind of BSDEs with weakly monotonic and uniformly continuous generators. Finally, we give an existence and uniqueness result for solutions of this kind of BSDEs with uniformly continuous generators.     

Uniqueness for algebraically regular solutions to pathological differential equations

A uniqueness theorem is proved for algebraically regular solutions to the unbounded initial value problem P′ = AP, P(0) = diag(1, 1, 1,…) in the real Banach algebra of infinite matrices $\text{M}$ with standard norm. It is not assumed that $\text{A}$ ∈ $\text{M}$, but it is required that A have an inverse in $\text{M}$, a property which is seen to be implied quite naturally by certain divergent or pathological systems. The conditions for the theorem are motivated by a particular system, previously considered by Hille and Feller, which arises from a divergent, purebirth, time dependent stochastic process, although no restriction requiring the solution matrix to be either stochastic or substochastic is necessary.The theorem may be easily generalized to any Banach algebra with identity.     

Existence results and the moment estimate for nonlocal stochastic differential equations with time-varying delay

This paper considers a class of nonlocal stochastic differential equations with time-varying delay whose coefficients are dependent on the pth moment. By applying the fixed point theorem, the existence and uniqueness of the solution of nonlocal stochastic differential delay equations is studied. Also, a class of moment estimates of solutions is considered. The results are a generalization and continuation of the recent results on this issue. An example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of our results.     

Stochastic Convolution-Type Heat Equations with Nonlinear Drift

Abstract

In this article, we study the solution of a class of stochastic convolution-type heat equations with nonlinear drift. For general initial condition and coefficients, we prove existence and uniqueness by using the characterization theorem and Banach's fixed-point theorem. We also give an implicit solution, which is a well-defined generalized stochastic process in a suitable distribution space. Finally, we investigate the continuous dependence of the solution on the initial data as well as the dependence on the coefficient.     

On the uniqueness of a solution of a two-phase free boundary problem

In this paper, we study the uniqueness problem of a two-phase elliptic free boundary problem arising from the phase transition problem subject to given boundary data. We show that in general the comparison principle between the sub- and super-solutions does not hold, and there is no uniqueness of either a viscosity solution or a minimizer of this free boundary problem by constructing counter-examples in various cases in any dimension. In one-dimension, a bifurcation phenomenon presents and the uniqueness problem has been completely analyzed. In fact, the critical case signifies the change from uniqueness to non-uniqueness of a solution of the free boundary problem. Non-uniqueness of a solution of the free boundary problem suggests different physical stationary states caused by different processes, such as melting of ice or solidification of water, even with the same prescribed boundary data. However, we prove that a uniqueness theorem is true for the initial-boundary value problem of an ε-evolutionary problem which is the smoothed two-phase parabolic free boundary problem.     

无限时滞中立型随机泛函微分方程解的存在唯一性

有限时滞随机泛函微分方程的存在唯一性已经得到较多的研究,但对于无限时滞随机泛函微分方程的性质极少.本文在不需要线性增长条件,在一致Lipschitz条件下证明了无限时滞中立型随机泛函微分方程的存在唯一性,给出了精确解和近似解的误差估计,最后给出了解的矩估计.     

Reflected BSDE's with discontinuous barrier and application

We deal with reflected backward stochastic differential equations with right continuous and left limited barrier. We show the existence and uniqueness of the solution and we give a comparison theorem. As an application, we study the link between such an equations with stochastic mixed control problems.     

Reflected backward doubly stochastic differential equations driven by a Lévy process

We prove the existence and uniqueness of a solution for reflected backward doubly stochastic differential equations (RBDSDEs) driven by Teugels martingales associated with a Lévy process, in which the obstacle process is right continuous with left limits (càdlàg), via Snell envelope and the fixed point theorem.     

Multidimensional BSDEs with weak monotonicity and general growth generators

This paper aims at solving a multidimensional backward stochastic differential equation （BSDE） whose generator g satisfies a weak monotonicity condition and a general growth condition in y. We first establish an existence and uniqueness result of solutions for this kind of BSDEs by using systematically the technique of the priori estimation, the convolution approach, the iteration, the truncation and the Bihari inequality. Then, we overview some assumptions related closely to the monotonieity condition in the literature and compare them in an effective way, which yields that our existence and uniqueness result really and truly unifies the Mao condition in y and the monotonieity condition with the general growth condition in y, and it generalizes some known results. Finally, we prove a stability theorem and a comparison theorem for this kind of BSDEs, which also improves some known results.