Markov Chain - General State Space

General State Space

Many results for Markov chains with finite state space can be generalized to chains with uncountable state space through Harris chains. The main idea is to see if there is a point in the state space that the chain hits with probability one. Generally, it is not true for continuous state space, however, we can define sets A and B along with a positive number ε and a probability measure ρ, such that

Then we could collapse the sets into an auxiliary point α, and a recurrent Harris chain can be modified to contain α. Lastly, the collection of Harris chains is a comfortable level of generality, which is broad enough to contain a large number of interesting examples, yet restrictive enough to allow for a rich theory.

Read more about this topic:  Markov Chain

Famous quotes containing the words general state, general, state and/or space:

    “Any general statement is like a cheque drawn on a bank. Its value depends on what is there to meet it.”
    —Ezra Pound (1885–1972)

    “We have grown literally afraid to be poor. We despise anyone who elects to be poor in order to simplify and save his inner life. If he does not join the general scramble and pant with the money-making street, we deem him spiritless and lacking in ambition.”
    —William James (1842–1910)

    “O! O! another stroke! that makes the third.
    He stabs me to the heart against my wish.
    If that be so, thy state of health is poor;
    But thine arithmetic is quite correct.”
    —A.E. (Alfred Edward)

    “The woman’s world ... is shown as a series of limited spaces, with the woman struggling to get free of them. The struggle is what the film is about; what is struggled against is the limited space itself. Consequently, to make its point, the film has to deny itself and suggest it was the struggle that was wrong, not the space.”
    —Jeanine Basinger (b. 1936)