English

Curve crossing for random walks reflected at their maximum

Probability 2009-09-29 v1

Abstract

Let Rn=max0jnSjSnR_n=\max_{0\leq j\leq n}S_j-S_n be a random walk SnS_n reflected in its maximum. Except in the trivial case when P(X0)=1P(X\ge0)=1, RnR_n will pass over a horizontal boundary of any height in a finite time, with probability 1. We extend this by giving necessary and sufficient conditions for finiteness of passage times of RnR_n above certain curved (power law) boundaries, as well. The intuition that a degree of heaviness of the negative tail of the distribution of the increments of SnS_n is necessary for passage of RnR_n above a high level is correct in most, but not all, cases, as we show. Conditions are also given for the finiteness of the expected passage time of RnR_n above linear and square root boundaries.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0708.1676,
  title  = {Curve crossing for random walks reflected at their maximum},
  author = {Ron Doney and Ross Maller},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0708.1676},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

Published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/009117906000000953 in the Annals of Probability (http://www.imstat.org/aop/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org)

R2 v1 2026-06-21T09:06:58.075Z