A characterization for mixtures of semi-Markov processes

Mixtures of recurrent semi-Markov processes are characterized through a partial exchangeability condition of the array of successor states and holding times. A stronger invariance condition on the joint law of successor states and holding times leads to mixtures of Markov laws.     

Admission control of a service station when the arrivals are internal

All studies in the admission control of a service station make decisions at arrival epochs. When arrivals are internal and are rejected from a queue, the rejected jobs have to be routed to other stations in the system. However the system will not know whether a job will be admitted to a queue or not until its arrival epoch to that queue. Thus, the system has to react dynamically and agilely to the decisions made at a specific queue and may try several queues before finding a queue that admits the job. This paper remedies these difficulties by changing the decision epochs of the admission control from arrival epochs to departure epochs with the actions of switching (keeping) the arrival stream on or off. Thus upstream stations will have information on the admission status of their downstream stations all the time. It is proved that the optimal policy for this revised admission control system is of control limit type for an M/G/1 queue. Comparisons of the optimal values and optimal policies for the admission controls made at arrival epochs and at departure epochs are included in the paper.     

中法激光时间比对和探测基本物理的相关空间计划

激光时间比对T2L2(Time Transfer by Laser Link)是法国蔚蓝海岸天文台(OCA)和法国空间中心(CNES)进行的新一代的时间传递计划,将于2008年年中随Jason-2卫星发射上天,并开始观测。它利用激光脉冲在空间的传播来实现地面—卫星,地面—地面远距离时钟的同步,精度比现有的微波比对方式提高1~2个数量级。中国拥有5个固定激光测距站和2个流动激光测距站,基于良好的地理位置和中法双方比较成熟的激光测距技术,中法激光站之间的时间比对和中国内部激光站之间的时间比对是该计划的重要内容。本文系统描述了T2L2的主要内容和关键技术,初步估算了该计划的精度和稳定度,对中法之间的时间比对做出了初步的观测规划。同时,简单介绍了目前世界上精密时钟的发展现况、T2L2的应用前景及正在研究中的TIPO、ASTRODⅠ、ACES、EGE等探测基本物理的相关空间计划。     

Semi-Markov failure rates processes

Usually, a reliability function is defined by a failure rate which is a real function taking the non-negative real values. In this paper the failure rate is assumed to be a stochastic process with non-negative and right continuous trajectories. The reliability function is defined as an expectation of a function of that random process. Particularly, the failure rate defined by the semi-Markov processes is considered here. The theorems dealing with the renewal equations for the conditional reliability functions with a semi-Markov process as a failure rate are presented in this paper. A system of that kind of equations for the discrete state space semi-Markov process is applied for calculating the reliability function for the 3-states semi-Markov random walk. Using the introduced system of renewal equations for the countable state space, the reliability function for the Furry-Yule failure rate process is obtained.     

NASA lasers probe planets

NASA is engaged in monitoring the health of planet Earth and exploring the other planets. For the former, global measurements of critical Earth parameters including ice sheet thickness, greenhouse gases, oxygen, wind velocity, and aerosols, are required. Highly specialized lasers, sometimes at new laser wavelengths, are needed to measure these variables. There are three approaches for this laser development being pursued by NASA. First, rather than seeking new lasers employing an empirical approach, a quantum mechanical model is used to predict better new lasers. Second, where lasers exist but the wavelength is not quite right, a technique referred to as compositional tuning was developed. Third, innovative laser designs are devised to produce laser sources at the requisite wavelengths.     

Mean time to failure and availability of semi-Markov missions with maximal repair

We analyze mean time to failure and availability of semi-Markov missions that consist of phases with random sequence and durations. It is assumed that the system is a complex one with nonidentical components whose failure properties depend on the mission process. The stochastic structure of the mission is described by a Markov renewal process. We characterize mean time to failure and system availability under the maximal repair policy where the whole system is replaced by a brand new after successfully completing a phase before the next phase starts. Special cases involving Markovian missions are also considered to obtain explicit formulas.     

Criterion of semi-Markov dependent risk model

A rigorous definition of semi-Markov dependent risk model is given. This model is a generalization of the Markov dependent risk model. A criterion and necessary conditions of semi- Markov dependent risk model are obtained. The results clarify relations between elements among semi-Markov dependent risk model more clear and are applicable for Markov dependent risk model.     

Switching stochastic models and applications in retrial queues

Some special classes of Switching Processes such as Recurrent Processes of a Semi-Markov type and Processes with Semi-Markov Switches are introduced. Limit theorems of Averaging Principle and Diffusion Approximation types are given. Applications to the asymptotic analysis of overloading state-dependent Markov and semi-Markov queueing modelsM _SM,Q /M _SM,Q /1/∞ and retrial queueing systemsM/G/1/w.r in transient conditions are studied. The paper was supported by INTAS Project 96-0828