English

Acceleration of Lamplighter Random Walks

Probability 2008-10-02 v2

Abstract

Suppose we are given an infinite, finitely generated group GG and a transient random walk on the wreath product (Z/2Z)G(\mathbb{Z}/ 2\mathbb{Z})\wr G, such that its projection on GG is transient and has finite first moment. This random walk can be interpreted as a lamplighter random walk on GG. Our aim is to show that the random walk on the wreath product escapes to infinity with respect to a suitable (pseudo-)metric faster than its projection onto GG. We also address the case where the pseudo-metric is the length of a shortest ``travelling salesman tour''. In this context, and excluding some degenerate cases if G=ZG=\mathbb{Z}, the linear rate of escape is strictly bigger than the rate of escape of the lamplighter random walk's projection on GG.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0708.3767,
  title  = {Acceleration of Lamplighter Random Walks},
  author = {Lorenz Gilch},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0708.3767},
  year   = {2008}
}

Comments

20 pages, accepted for publication in Markov Processes and Related Fields

R2 v1 2026-06-21T09:11:23.004Z