English

Null recurrence and transience for a binomial catastrophe model in random environment

Probability 2023-02-02 v2

Abstract

We consider a discrete time population model for which each individual alive at time nn survives independently of everybody else at time n+1n+1 with probability βn\beta_n. The sequence (βn)(\beta_n) is i.i.d. and constitutes our random environment. Moreover, at every time nn we add ZnZ_n individuals to the population. The sequence (Zn)(Z_n) is also i.i.d. We find sufficient conditions for null recurrence and transience (positive recurrence has been addressed by Neuts). We apply our results to a particular (Zn)(Z_n) distribution and deterministic β\beta. This particular case shows a rather unusual phase transition in β\beta in the sense that the Markov chain goes from transience to null recurrence without ever reaching positive recurrence.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2211.14193,
  title  = {Null recurrence and transience for a binomial catastrophe model in random environment},
  author = {Luiz Renato Fontes and Fabio P. Machado and Rinaldo B. Schinazi},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2211.14193},
  year   = {2023}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-28T07:12:50.119Z