New general convergence theory for iterative processes and its applications to Newton–Kantorovich type theorems

Let T:D⊂X→X$T:D\subset X\to X$ be an iteration function in a complete metric space X$X$. In this paper we present some new general complete convergence theorems for the Picard iteration _xn+1=T_xn$x_{n+1}=T{x}_n$ with order of convergence at least r≥1$r\ge 1$. Each of these theorems contains a priori and a posteriori error estimates as well as some other estimates. A central role in the new theory is played by the notions of a function of initial conditions   of T$T$ and a convergence function   of T$T$. We study the convergence of the Picard iteration associated to T$T$ with respect to a function of initial conditions E:D→X$E:D\to X$. The initial conditions in our convergence results utilize only information at the starting point _x0$x_0$. More precisely, the initial conditions are given in the form E(_x0)∈J$E\left(x_0\right)\in J$, where J$J$ is an interval on _R+${\mathbb{R}}_{+}$ containing 0. The new convergence theory is applied to the Newton iteration in Banach spaces. We establish three complete ω$\omega$-versions of the famous semilocal Newton–Kantorovich theorem as well as a complete version of the famous semilocal α$\alpha$-theorem of Smale for analytic functions.     

Abelian theorems for stochastic volatility models with application to the estimation of jump activity

In this paper, we prove a kind of Abelian theorem for a class of stochastic volatility models (X,V)$(X,V)$ where both the state process X$X$ and the volatility process V$V$ may have jumps. Our results relate the asymptotic behavior of the characteristic function of _XΔ$X_{\Delta }$ for some Δ>0$\Delta >0$ in a stationary regime to the Blumenthal–Getoor indexes of the Lévy processes driving the jumps in X$X$ and V$V$. The results obtained are used to construct consistent estimators for the above Blumenthal–Getoor indexes based on low-frequency observations of the state process X$X$. We derive convergence rates for the corresponding estimator and show that these rates cannot be improved in general.     

Parametric inference for discretely observed multidimensional diffusions with small diffusion coefficient

We consider a multidimensional diffusion X$X$ with drift coefficient b(α,_Xt)$b(\alpha ,X_t)$ and diffusion coefficient ?σ(β,_Xt)$?\sigma (\beta ,X_t)$. The diffusion sample path is discretely observed at times _tk=kΔ$t_k=k\Delta$ for k=1…n$k=1\dots n$ on a fixed interval [0,T]$[0,T]$. We study minimum contrast estimators derived from the Gaussian process approximating X$X$ for small ?$?$. We obtain consistent and asymptotically normal estimators of α$\alpha$ for fixed Δ$\Delta$ and ?→0$?\to 0$ and of (α,β)$(\alpha ,\beta )$ for Δ→0$\Delta \to 0$ and ?→0$?\to 0$ without any condition linking ?$?$ and Δ$\Delta$. We compare the estimators obtained with various methods and for various magnitudes of Δ$\Delta$ and ?$?$ based on simulation studies. Finally, we investigate the interest of using such methods in an epidemiological framework.     

Coalescence in the recent past in rapidly growing populations

In a rapidly growing population one expects that two individuals chosen at random from the n$n$th generation are unlikely to be closely related if n$n$ is large. In this paper it is shown that for a broad class of rapidly growing populations this is not the case. For a Galton–Watson branching process with an offspring distribution {_pj}$\left\{p_j\right\}$ such that _p0=0$p_0=0$ and ψ(x)=_{∑jpjI{j≥x}}$\psi \left(x\right)={\sum }_j{p}_j{I}_{\{j\ge x\}}$ is asymptotic to x^−αL(x)$x^{-\alpha }L\left(x\right)$ as x→∞$x\to \infty$ where L(⋅)$L(\cdot )$ is slowly varying at ∞$\infty$ and 0<α<1$0<\alpha <1$ (and hence the mean m=∑j_pj=∞$m=\sum j{p}_j=\infty$) it is shown that if _Xn$X_n$ is the generation number of the coalescence of the lines of descent backwards in time of two randomly chosen individuals from the n$n$th generation then n−_Xn$n-X_n$ converges in distribution to a proper distribution supported by N={1,2,3,…}$\mathbb{N}=\{1,2,3,\dots \}$. That is, in such a rapidly growing population coalescence occurs in the recent past rather than the remote past. We do show that if the offspring mean m$m$ satisfies 1<m≡∑j_pj<∞$1<m\equiv \sum j{p}_j<\infty$ and _p0=0$p_0=0$ then coalescence time _Xn$X_n$ does converge to a proper distribution as n→∞$n\to \infty$, i.e., coalescence does take place in the remote past.     

Non-homogeneous random walks on a semi-infinite strip

We study the asymptotic behaviour of Markov chains (_Xn,_ηn)$(X_n,{\eta }_n)$ on _Z+×S${\mathbb{Z}}_{+}\times S$, where _Z+${\mathbb{Z}}_{+}$ is the non-negative integers and S$S$ is a finite set. Neither coordinate is assumed to be Markov. We assume a moments bound on the jumps of _Xn$X_n$, and that, roughly speaking, _ηn${\eta }_n$ is close to being Markov when _Xn$X_n$ is large. This departure from much of the literature, which assumes that _ηn${\eta }_n$ is itself a Markov chain, enables us to probe precisely the recurrence phase transitions by assuming asymptotically zero drift for _Xn$X_n$ given _ηn${\eta }_n$. We give a recurrence classification in terms of increment moment parameters for _Xn$X_n$ and the stationary distribution for the large- X$X$ limit of _ηn${\eta }_n$. In the null case we also provide a weak convergence result, which demonstrates a form of asymptotic independence between _Xn$X_n$ (rescaled) and _ηn${\eta }_n$. Our results can be seen as generalizations of Lamperti’s results for non-homogeneous random walks on _Z+${\mathbb{Z}}_{+}$ (the case where S$S$ is a singleton). Motivation arises from modulated queues or processes with hidden variables where _ηn${\eta }_n$ tracks an internal state of the system.     

Pull-back morphisms for reflexive differential forms

Let f:X→Y$f:X\to Y$ be a morphism between normal complex varieties, where Y$Y$ is Kawamata log terminal. Given any differential form σ$\sigma$, defined on the smooth locus of Y$Y$, we construct a “pull-back form” on X$X$. The pull-back map obtained by this construction is _?Y${?}_Y$-linear, uniquely determined by natural universal properties and exists even in cases where the image of f$f$ is entirely contained in the singular locus of Y$Y$.     

Measurability of semimartingale characteristics with respect to the probability law

Given a càdlàg process X$X$ on a filtered measurable space, we construct a version of its semimartingale characteristics which is measurable with respect to the underlying probability law. More precisely, let _Psem${\mathfrak{P}}_{sem}$ be the set of all probability measures P$P$ under which X$X$ is a semimartingale. We construct processes (B^P,C,ν^P)$(B^P,C,{\nu }^P)$ which are jointly measurable in time, space, and the probability law P$P$, and are versions of the semimartingale characteristics of X$X$ under P$P$ for each P∈_Psem$P\in {\mathfrak{P}}_{sem}$. This result gives a general and unifying answer to measurability questions that arise in the context of quasi-sure analysis and stochastic control under the weak formulation.     

Iterative approximation of solutions of nonlinear equations of Hammerstein type

Suppose X$X$ is a real q$q$-uniformly smooth Banach space and F,K:X→X$F,K:X\to X$ are Lipschitz ?$?$-strongly accretive maps with D(K)=F(X)=X$D\left(K\right)=F\left(X\right)=X$. Let u^∗$u^{\ast }$ denote the unique solution of the Hammerstein equation u+KFu=0$u+KFu=0$. An iteration process recently introduced by Chidume and Zegeye is shown to converge strongly to u^∗$u^{\ast }$. No invertibility assumption is imposed on K$K$ and the operators K$K$ and F$F$ need not be defined on compact subsets of X$X$. Furthermore, our new technique of proof is of independent interest. Finally, some interesting open questions are included.     

Kadec–Klee property and fixed points

Let X be a reflexive Banach space which does not have the Kadec–Klee property. Then there exists a compact mapping f   from the unit ball _BX$B_X$ of X   to the dual space X^?$X^{?}$ such that _infx∈BX‖f(x)‖>0${\inf }_{x\in B_X}\Vert f(x)\Vert >0$ and 〈f(x),x〉<‖f(x)‖$〈f(x),x〉<\Vert f(x)\Vert$ for every x∈_BX$x\in B_X$.     

Approximation of solutions of Hammerstein equations with bounded strongly accretive nonlinear operators

Suppose X$X$ is a real q$q$-uniformly smooth Banach space and F,K:X→X$F,K:X\to X$ are bounded strongly accretive maps with D(K)=F(X)=X$D\left(K\right)=F\left(X\right)=X$. Let u^∗$u^{\ast }$ denote the unique solution of the Hammerstein equation u+KFu=0$u+KFu=0$. A new explicit coupled iteration process is shown to converge strongly to u^∗$u^{\ast }$. No invertibility assumption is imposed on K$K$ and the operators K$K$ and F$F$ need not be defined on compact subsets of X$X$. Furthermore, our new technique of proof is of independent interest. Finally, some interesting open questions are included.     

A note on Schweizer–Smital chaos

In this paper, we consider a continuous map f:X→X$f:X\to X$, where X$X$ is a compact metric space, and prove that for any positive integer N$N$, f$f$ is Schweizer–Smital chaotic if and only if f^N$f^N$ is too.     

On Ocneanu's theory of double triangle algebras for subfactors and classification of irreducible connections on the Dynkin diagrams

We give an exposition of Ocneanu's theory of double triangle algebras for subfactors and its application to the classification of irreducible bi-unitary connections on the Dynkin diagrams _An$A_n$, _Dn$D_n$, _E6$E_6$, _E7$E_7$ and _E8$E_8$. More precisely, we give a detailed proof of the complete classification of irreducible K–L$K–L$ bi-unitary connections up to gauge choice, where K and L   represent the two horizontal graphs which are among the A–D–E$A–D–E$ Dynkin diagrams. The result also provides a simple proof of the flatness of _D2n$D_{2n}$, _E6$E_6$ and _E8$E_8$ connections as well as an easy computation of the flat part of _E7$E_7$ as an application.     

Rational functions with identical measure of maximal entropy

We discuss when two rational functions f and g   can have the same measure of maximal entropy. The polynomial case was completed by Beardon, Levin, Baker–Eremenko, Schmidt–Steinmetz, etc., 1980s–1990s, and we address the rational case following Levin and Przytycki (1997). We show: _μf=_μg${\mu }_f={\mu }_g$ implies that f and g   share an iterate (fⁿ=g^m$f^n=g^m$ for some n and m) for general f   with degree d≥3$d\ge 3$. And for generic f∈_Ratd≥3$f\in {\mathrm{Rat}}_{d\ge 3}$, _μf=_μg${\mu }_f={\mu }_g$ implies g=fⁿ$g=f^n$ for some n≥1$n\ge 1$. For generic f∈_Rat2$f\in {\mathrm{Rat}}_2$, _μf=_μg${\mu }_f={\mu }_g$ implies that g=fⁿ$g=f^n$ or _σf°fⁿ${\sigma }_f°f^n$ for some n≥1$n\ge 1$, where _σf∈_PSL2(C)${\sigma }_f\in {\mathit{PSL}}_2(\mathbb{C})$ permutes two points in each fiber of f. Finally, we construct examples of f and g   with _μf=_μg${\mu }_f={\mu }_g$ such that fⁿ≠σ°g^m$f^n\ne \sigma °g^m$ for any σ∈_PSL2(C)$\sigma \in {\mathit{PSL}}_2(\mathbb{C})$ and m,n≥1$m,n\ge 1$.