Upper tail large deviation for the one-dimensional frog model

Abstract

In this paper, we study the upper tail large deviation for the one-dimensional frog model. In this model, sleeping and active frogs are assigned to vertices on $\mathbb Z$. While sleeping frogs do not move, the active ones move as independent simple random walks and activate any sleeping frogs. The main object of interest in this model is the asymptotic behavior of the first passage time ${\rm T}(0,n)$, which is the time needed to activate the frog at the vertex $n$, assuming there is only one active frog at $0$ at the beginning. While the law of large numbers and central limit theorems have been well established, the intricacies of large deviations remain elusive. Using renewal theory, B\'erard and Ram\'irez have pointed out a slowdown phenomenon where the probability that the first passage time ${\rm T}(0,n)$ is significantly larger than its expectation decays sub-exponentially and lies between $\exp(-n^{1/2+o(1)})$ and $\exp(-n^{1/3+o(1)})$. In this article, using a novel covering process approach, we confirm that $1/2$ is the correct exponent, i.e., the rate of upper large deviations is given by $n^{1/2}$. Moreover, we obtain an explicit rate function that is characterized by properties of Brownian motion and is strictly concave.