Random walks on free products of cyclic groups

Let G be a free product of a finite family of finite groups,with the set of generators being formed by the union of thefinite groups. We consider a transient nearest-neighbour randomwalk on G. We give a new proof of the fact that the harmonicmeasure is a special Markovian measure entirely determined bya finite set of polynomial equations. We show that in severalsimple cases of interest, the polynomial equations can be explicitlysolved to get closed form formulae for the drift. The examplesconsidered are /2 /3, /3 /3, /k /k and the Hecke groups /2 /k.We also use these various examples to study Vershik's notionof extremal generators, which is based on the relation betweenthe drift, the entropy and the growth of the group.     

Finitely additive random walks on infinitely generated free groups

We consider any purely finitely additive probability measure supported on the generators of an infinitely generated free group and the Markov strategy with stationary transition probability . As well as for the case of random walks (with countably additive transition probability) on finitely generated free groups, we prove that all bounded sets are transient. Finally, we consider any finitely additive measure (supported on the group generators) and we prove that the classification of the state space depends only on the continuous part of .     

Asymptotic entropy of the ranges of random walks on discrete groups

Inspired by Benjamini et al.(2010) and Windisch(2010),we consider the entropy of the random walk ranges R_n formed by the first n steps of a random walk S on a discrete group.In this setting,we show the existence of h_R:=lim_(n→∞)H(R_n)/n called the asymptotic entropy of the ranges.A sample version of the above statement in the sense of Shannon(1948) is also proved.This answers a question raised by Windisch(2010).We also present a systematic characterization of the vanishing asymptotic entropy of the ranges.Particularly,we show that h_R=0 if and only if the random walk either is recurrent or escapes to negative infinity without left jump.By introducing the weighted digraphs Γ_n formed by the underlying random walk,we can characterize the recurrence property of S as the vanishing property of the quantity lim_(n→∞)H(Γ_n)/n,which is an analogue of h_R.     

Some Hecke algebra products and corresponding random walks

Let i=1+q+???+q ^i?1. For certain sequences (r ₁,…,r _l ) of positive integers, we show that in the Hecke algebra ? _n (q) of the symmetric group \(\mathfrak{S}_{n}\), the product \((1+\boldsymbol{r}_{\boldsymbol{1}}T_{r_{1}})\cdots (1+\boldsymbol{r}_{\boldsymbol{l}}T_{r_{l}})\) has a simple explicit expansion in terms of the standard basis {T _w }. An interpretation is given in terms of random walks on \(\mathfrak{S}_{n}\).     

Some examples of free actions on products of spheres

If G₁ and G₂ are finite groups with periodic Tate cohomology, then G₁×G₂ acts freely and smoothly on some product Sⁿ×Sⁿ.     

Properties of random walks on discrete groups: Time regularity and off-diagonal estimates

In this paper we study some properties of the convolution powers K(n)=K∗K∗?∗K of a probability density K on a discrete group G, where K is not assumed to be symmetric. If K is centered, we show that the Markov operator T associated with K is analytic in Lp(G) for 1<p<∞, and prove Davies-Gaffney estimates in L² for the iterated operators Tn. This enables us to obtain Gaussian upper bounds for the convolution powers K(n). In case the group G is amenable, we discover that the analyticity and Davies-Gaffney estimates hold if and only if K is centered. We also estimate time and space differences, and use these to obtain a new proof of the Gaussian estimates with precise time decay in case G has polynomial volume growth.     

Local limits and harmonic functions for nonisotropic random walks on free groups

Summary Nearest neighbour random walks on the homogeneous tree representing a free group withs generators (2s) are investigated. By use of generating functions and their analytic properties a local limit theorem is derived. A study of the harmonic functions corresponding to the random walk leads to properties that characterize ther-harmonic function connected with the local limits.     

Random walks on discrete cylinders and random interlacements

We explore some of the connections between the local picture left by the trace of simple random walk on a cylinder ${(\mathbb {Z} / N\mathbb {Z})^d \times \mathbb {Z}}$ , d ≥ 2, running for times of order N ^2d and the model of random interlacements recently introduced in Sznitman ( http://www.math.ethz.ch/u/sznitman/preprints). In particular, we show that for large N in the neighborhood of a point of the cylinder with vertical component of order N ^d the complement of the set of points visited by the walk up to times of order N ^2d is close in distribution to the law of the vacant set of random interlacements with a level which is determined by an independent Brownian local time. The limit behavior of the joint distribution of the local pictures in the neighborhood of finitely many points is also derived.     

Martin boundaries of random walks on Fuchsian groups

Let Γ be a finitely generated non-elementary Fuchsian group, and let μ be a probability measure with finite support on Γ such that supp μ generates Γ as a semigroup. If Γ contains no parabolic elements we show that for all but a small number of co-compact Γ, the Martin boundaryM of the random walk on Γ with distribution μ can be identified with the limit set Λ of Γ. If Γ has cusps, we prove that Γ can be deformed into a group Γ', abstractly isomorphic to Γ, such thatM can be identified with Λ', the limit set of Γ'. Our method uses the identification of Λ with a certain set of infinite reduced words in the generators of Γ described in [15]. The harmonic measure ν (ν is the hitting distribution of random paths in Γ on Λ) is a Gibbs measure on this space of infinite words, and the Poisson boundary of Γ, μ can be identified with Λ, ν.     

Recurrent random walks on certain classes of groups

This article is divided into two parts: in the first we give some results about renewal and normality of a recurrent random walk (r.w.) on an abelian group, without the Harris hypothesis, which will extend the theorems of S.C. Port and C.J. Stone ([8]) to a larger class of functions. They are stated in the Theorems 1.14 and 1.15. The technique will be to approximate the recurrent r.w. by a Harris recurrent r.w., for which the recent results of A. Brunel and D. Revuz ([2–4]) hold.the second part the results of the first part are extended to a particular class of nonabelian groups.The author wishes to thank A. Brunel for several very useful conversations and suggestions.     

Spectral measure of the transition operator and harmonic functions connected with random walks on discrete groups

One considers a random walk on a countable group, determined by the measure. For amenable groups one gives an estimate of the spectral measure of the transition operator of the random walk in terms of the growth of the Følner sets, which allows us to find a lower bound for the probability of returning to the identity of inn steps. One gives an example of this estimate for the group. In the second part of the paper one obtains a lower bound for the entropy in terms of the oscillation of a nontrivial bounded -harmonic function on.Translated from Zapiski Nauchnykh Seminarov Leningradskogo Otdeleniya Matematicheskogo Instituta im. V. A. Steklova AN SSSR, Vol. 97, pp. 102–109, 1980.In conclusion, the author expresses his deep gratitude to this scientific advisor A. M. Vershik for his constant interest and help.     

Phase transitions for random walk asymptotics on free products of groups

Suppose we are given finitely generated groups Γ₁,…,Γ_m equipped with irreducible random walks. Thereby we assume that the expansions of the corresponding Green functions at their radii of convergence contain only logarithmic or algebraic terms as singular terms up to sufficiently large order (except for some degenerate cases). We consider transient random walks on the free product Γ₁* … *Γ_m and give a complete classification of the possible asymptotic behaviour of the corresponding n‐step return probabilities. They either inherit a law of the form ?^nδn log n from one of the free factors Γ_i or obey a ?^nδn^?3/2‐law, where ? < 1 is the corresponding spectral radius and δ is the period of the random walk. In addition, we determine the full range of the asymptotic behaviour in the case of nearest neighbour random walks on free products of the form $\mathbb{Z}^{d_1}\ast \ldots \ast \mathbb{Z}^{d_m}Suppose we are given finitely generated groups Γ₁,…,Γ_m equipped with irreducible random walks. Thereby we assume that the expansions of the corresponding Green functions at their radii of convergence contain only logarithmic or algebraic terms as singular terms up to sufficiently large order (except for some degenerate cases). We consider transient random walks on the free product Γ₁* … *Γ_m and give a complete classification of the possible asymptotic behaviour of the corresponding n‐step return probabilities. They either inherit a law of the form ?^nδn log n from one of the free factors Γ_i or obey a ?^nδn^?3/2‐law, where ? < 1 is the corresponding spectral radius and δ is the period of the random walk. In addition, we determine the full range of the asymptotic behaviour in the case of nearest neighbour random walks on free products of the form $\mathbb{Z}^{d_1}\ast \ldots \ast \mathbb{Z}^{d_m}$. Moreover, we characterize the possible phase transitions of the non‐exponential types n log n in the case Γ₁ * Γ₂. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2012     

Random walks in random environments on metric groups

Random walks in random environments on countable metric groups with bounded jumps of the walking particle are considered. The transition probabilities of such a random walk from a pointx εG (whereG is the group in question) are described by a vectorp(x) ε ℝ^|W| (whereW ⊏G is fixed and |W|<∞). The set {p(x),x εG} is assumed to consist of independent identically distributed random vectors. A sufficient condition for this random walk to be transient is found. As an example, the groups ℤ ^d , free groups, and the free product of finitely many cyclic groups of second order are considered. Translated fromMatematicheskie Zametki, Vol. 67, No. 1, pp. 129–135, January, 2000.