English

On the $\alpha$-lazy version of Markov chains in estimation and testing problems

Machine Learning 2021-11-02 v2 Machine Learning

Abstract

Given access to a single long trajectory generated by an unknown irreducible Markov chain MM, we simulate an α\alpha-lazy version of MM which is ergodic. This enables us to generalize recent results on estimation and identity testing that were stated for ergodic Markov chains in a way that allows fully empirical inference. In particular, our approach shows that the pseudo spectral gap introduced by Paulin [2015] and defined for ergodic Markov chains may be given a meaning already in the case of irreducible but possibly periodic Markov chains.

Cite

@article{arxiv.2105.09536,
  title  = {On the $\alpha$-lazy version of Markov chains in estimation and testing problems},
  author = {Sela Fried and Geoffrey Wolfer},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2105.09536},
  year   = {2021}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-24T02:17:19.797Z