A short proof of the Doob–Meyer theorem

Every submartingale S$S$ of class D$D$ has a unique Doob–Meyer decomposition S=M+A$S=M+A$, where M$M$ is a martingale and A$A$ is a predictable increasing process starting at 0.     

Comparison inequalities on Wiener space

We define a covariance-type operator on Wiener space: for F$F$ and G$G$ two random variables in the Gross–Sobolev space D^1,2${\mathbb{D}}^{1,2}$ of random variables with a square-integrable Malliavin derivative, we let _ΓF,G?〈DF,−DL⁻¹G〉${\Gamma }_{F,G}?〈{DF,-DL}^{-1}G〉$, where D$D$ is the Malliavin derivative operator and L⁻¹$L^{-1}$ is the pseudo-inverse of the generator of the Ornstein–Uhlenbeck semigroup. We use Γ$\Gamma$ to extend the notion of covariance and canonical metric for vectors and random fields on Wiener space, and prove corresponding non-Gaussian comparison inequalities on Wiener space, which extend the Sudakov–Fernique result on comparison of expected suprema of Gaussian fields, and the Slepian inequality for functionals of Gaussian vectors. These results are proved using a so-called smart-path method on Wiener space, and are illustrated via various examples. We also illustrate the use of the same method by proving a Sherrington–Kirkpatrick universality result for spin systems in correlated and non-stationary non-Gaussian random media.     

Weak convergence of censored and reflected stable processes

It is shown that if a sequence of open n$n$-sets _Dk$D_k$ increases to an open n$n$-set D$D$ then reflected stable processes in _Dk$D_k$ converge weakly to the reflected stable process in D$D$ for every starting point x$x$ in D$D$. The same result holds for censored α$\alpha$-stable processes for every x$x$ in D$D$ if D$D$ and _Dk$D_k$ satisfy the uniform Hardy inequality. Using the method in the proof of the above results, we also prove the weak convergence of reflected Brownian motions in unbounded domains.     

Power variation for Gaussian processes with stationary increments

We develop the asymptotic theory for the realised power variation of the processes X=?•G$X=?•G$, where G$G$ is a Gaussian process with stationary increments. More specifically, under some mild assumptions on the variance function of the increments of G$G$ and certain regularity conditions on the path of the process ?$?$ we prove the convergence in probability for the properly normalised realised power variation. Moreover, under a further assumption on the Hölder index of the path of ?$?$, we show an associated stable central limit theorem. The main tool is a general central limit theorem, due essentially to Hu and Nualart [Y. Hu, D. Nualart, Renormalized self-intersection local time for fractional Brownian motion, Ann. Probab. (33) (2005) 948–983], Nualart and Peccati [D. Nualart, G. Peccati, Central limit theorems for sequences of multiple stochastic integrals, Ann. Probab. (33) (2005) 177–193] and Peccati and Tudor [G. Peccati, C.A. Tudor, Gaussian limits for vector-valued multiple stochastic integrals, in: M. Emery, M. Ledoux, M. Yor (Eds.), Seminaire de Probabilites XXXVIII, in: Lecture Notes in Math, vol. 1857, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 2005, pp. 247–262], for sequences of random variables which admit a chaos representation.     

A strong uniform approximation of fractional Brownian motion by means of transport processes

We construct a sequence of processes that converges strongly to fractional Brownian motion uniformly on bounded intervals for any Hurst parameter H$H$, and we derive a rate of convergence, which becomes better when H$H$ approaches 1/2$1/2$. The construction is based on the Mandelbrot–van Ness stochastic integral representation of fractional Brownian motion and on a strong transport process approximation of Brownian motion. The objective of this method is to facilitate simulation.     

Approximation of stationary solutions to SDEs driven by multiplicative fractional noise

In a previous paper, we studied the ergodic properties of an Euler scheme of a stochastic differential equation with a Gaussian additive noise in order to approximate the stationary regime of such an equation. We now consider the case of multiplicative noise when the Gaussian process is a fractional Brownian motion with Hurst parameter H>1/2$H>1/2$ and obtain some (functional) convergence properties of some empirical measures of the Euler scheme to the stationary solutions of such SDEs.     

The reversibility and an SPDE for the generalized Fleming–Viot processes with mutation

The (Ξ,A)$(\Xi ,A)$-Fleming–Viot process with mutation is a probability-measure-valued process whose moment dual is similar to that of the classical Fleming–Viot process except that Kingman’s coalescent is replaced by the Ξ$\Xi$-coalescent, the coalescent with simultaneous multiple collisions. We first prove the existence of such a process for general mutation generator A$A$. We then investigate its reversibility. We also study both the weak and strong uniqueness of the solution to the associated stochastic partial differential equation.     

A multiparameter Garsia–Rodemich–Rumsey inequality and some applications

We extend the classical Garsia–Rodemich–Rumsey inequality to the multiparameter situation. The new inequality is applied to obtain some joint Hölder continuity along the rectangles for fractional Brownian fields W(t,x)$W(t,x)$ and for the solution u(t,y)$u(t,y)$ of the stochastic heat equation with additive white noise.     

On the Wiener–Hopf factorization for Lévy processes with bounded positive jumps

We study the Wiener–Hopf factorization for Lévy processes with bounded positive jumps and arbitrary negative jumps. We prove that the positive Wiener–Hopf factor can be expressed as an infinite product involving solutions to the equation ψ(z)=q$\psi \left(z\right)=q$, where ψ$\psi$ is the Laplace exponent. Under additional regularity assumptions on the Lévy measure we obtain an asymptotic expression for these solutions. When the process is spectrally negative with bounded jumps, we derive a series representation for the scale function. In order to illustrate possible applications, we discuss the implementation of numerical algorithms and present the results of several numerical experiments.     

Convergence to Lévy stable processes under some weak dependence conditions

For a strictly stationary sequence of random vectors in R^d${\mathbb{R}}^d$ we study convergence of partial sum processes to a Lévy stable process in the Skorohod space with _J1$J_1$-topology. We identify necessary and sufficient conditions for such convergence and provide sufficient conditions when the stationary sequence is strongly mixing.     

Unilateral small deviations of processes related to the fractional Brownian motion

Let x(s)$x\left(s\right)$, s∈R^d$s\in R^d$ be a Gaussian self-similar random process of index H$H$. We consider the problem of log-asymptotics for the probability _pT$p_T$ that x(s)$x\left(s\right)$, x(0)=0$x\left(0\right)=0$ does not exceed a fixed level in a star-shaped expanding domain T⋅Δ$T\cdot \Delta$ as T→∞$T\to \infty$. We solve the problem of the existence of the limit, θ?lim(−log_pT)/(logT)^D$\theta ?lim(-log{p}_T)/{(logT)}^D$, T→∞$T\to \infty$, for the fractional Brownian sheet x(s)$x\left(s\right)$, s∈[0,T]²$s\in {[0,T]}^2$ when D=2$D=2$, and we estimate θ$\theta$ for the integrated fractional Brownian motion when D=1$D=1$.     

Limit theorems for occupation time fluctuations of branching systems I: Long-range dependence

We give a functional limit theorem for the fluctuations of the rescaled occupation time process of a critical branching particle system in R^d${\mathbb{R}}^d$ with symmetric α$\alpha$-stable motion and α<d<2α$\alpha <d<2\alpha$, which leads to a long-range dependence process involving sub-fractional Brownian motion. We also give an analogous result for the system without branching and d<α$d<\alpha$, which involves fractional Brownian motion. We use a space–time random field approach.     

Quasi-stationary distributions and Yaglom limits of self-similar Markov processes

We discuss the existence and characterization of quasi-stationary distributions and Yaglom limits of self-similar Markov processes that reach 0 in finite time. By Yaglom limit, we mean the existence of a deterministic function g$g$ and a non-trivial probability measure ν$\nu$ such that the process rescaled by g$g$ and conditioned on non-extinction converges in distribution towards ν$\nu$. We will see that a Yaglom limit exists if and only if the extinction time at 0$0$ of the process is in the domain of attraction of an extreme law and we will then treat separately three cases, according to whether the extinction time is in the domain of attraction of a Gumbel, Weibull or Fréchet law. In each of these cases, necessary and sufficient conditions on the parameters of the underlying Lévy process are given for the extinction time to be in the required domain of attraction. The limit of the process conditioned to be positive is then characterized by a multiplicative equation which is connected to a factorization of the exponential distribution in the Gumbel case, a factorization of a Beta distribution in the Weibull case and a factorization of a Pareto distribution in the Fréchet case.     

Tail expansions for the distribution of the maximum of a random walk with negative drift and regularly varying increments

Let F$F$ be a distribution function with negative mean and regularly varying right tail. Under a mild smoothness condition we derive higher order asymptotic expansions for the tail distribution of the maxima of the random walk generated by F$F$. The expansion is based on an expansion for the right Wiener–Hopf factor which we derive first. An application to ruin probabilities is developed.     

Tempering stable processes

A tempered stable Lévy process combines both the α$\alpha$-stable and Gaussian trends. In a short time frame it is close to an α$\alpha$-stable process while in a long time frame it approximates a Brownian motion. In this paper we consider a general and robust class of multivariate tempered stable distributions and establish their identifiable parametrization. We prove short and long time behavior of tempered stable Lévy processes and investigate their absolute continuity with respect to the underlying α$\alpha$-stable processes. We find probabilistic representations of tempered stable processes which specifically show how such processes are obtained by cutting (tempering) jumps of stable processes. These representations exhibit α$\alpha$-stable and Gaussian tendencies in tempered stable processes and thus give probabilistic intuition for their study. Such representations can also be used for simulation. We also develop the corresponding representations for Ornstein–Uhlenbeck-type processes.     

Formulas for stopped diffusion processes with stopping times based on drawdowns and drawups

This paper studies drawdown and drawup processes in a general diffusion model. The main result is a formula for the joint distribution of the running minimum and the running maximum of the process stopped at the time of the first drop of size a$a$. As a consequence, we obtain the probabilities that a drawdown of size a$a$ precedes a drawup of size b$b$ and vice versa. The results are applied to several examples of diffusion processes, such as drifted Brownian motion, Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process, and Cox–Ingersoll–Ross process.