Phase-type Distribution - Characterization

Characterization

The distribution of time X until the process reaches the absorbing state is said to be phase-type distributed and is denoted PH(α,S).

The distribution function of X is given by,

$F(x)=1-\boldsymbol{\alpha}\exp({S}x)\mathbf{1},$

and the density function,

$f(x)=\boldsymbol{\alpha}\exp({S}x)\mathbf{S^{0}},$

for all x > 0, where exp( · ) is the matrix exponential. It is usually assumed the probability of process starting in the absorbing state is zero (i.e. α₀= 0). The moments of the distribution function are given by

$E=(-1)^{n}n!\boldsymbol{\alpha}{S}^{-n}\mathbf{1}.$

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