SearcharxivSearch

arXiv subjects

Federico Polito

Publications and source records attributed to Federico Polito.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Generalized random processes related to Hadamard operators and Le Roy measures

The definition of generalized random processes in Gel'fand sense allows to extend well-known stochastic models, such as the fractional Brownian motion, and study the related fractional pde's, as well as stochastic differential equations in distributional sense. By analogy with the construction (in the infinite-dimensional white-noise space) of the latter, we introduce two processes defined by means of Hadamard-type fractional operators. When used to replace the time derivative in the governing p.d.e.'s, the Hadamard-type derivatives are usually associated with ultra-slow diffusions. On the other hand, in our construction, they directly determine the memory properties of the so-called Hadamard fractional Brownian motion (H-fBm) and its long-time behaviour. Still, for any finite time horizon, the H-fBm displays a standard diffusing feature. We then extend the definition of the H-fBm from the white noise space to an infinite dimensional grey-noise space built on the Le Roy measure, so that our model represents an alternative to the generalized grey Brownian motion. In this case, we prove that the one-dimensional distribution of the process satisfies a heat equation with non-constant coefficients and fractional Hadamard time-derivative. Finally, once proved the existence of the distributional derivative of the above defined processes and derived an integral formula for it, we construct an Ornstein-Uhlenbeck type process and evaluate its distribution.

math.PR

Random walks with stochastic resetting in complex networks: a discrete time approach

We consider a discrete-time Markovian random walk with resets on a connected undirected network. The resets, in which the walker is relocated to randomly chosen nodes, are governed by an independent discrete-time renewal process. Some nodes of the network are target nodes, and we focus on the statistics of first hitting of these nodes. In the non-Markov case of the renewal process, we consider both light- and fat-tailed inter-reset distributions. We derive the propagator matrix in terms of discrete backward recurrence time PDFs and in the light-tailed case we show the existence of a non-equilibrium steady state. In order to tackle the non-Markov scenario, we derive a defective propagator matrix which describes an auxiliary walk characterized by killing the walker as soon as it hits target nodes. This propagator provides the information on the mean first passage statistics to the target nodes. We establish sufficient conditions for ergodicity of the walk under resetting. Furthermore, we discuss a generic resetting mechanism for which the walk is non-ergodic. Finally, we analyze inter-reset time distributions with infinite mean where we focus on the Sibuya case. We apply these results to study the mean first passage times for Markovian and non-Markovian (Sibuya) renewal resetting protocols in realizations of Watts-Strogatz and Barab\'asi-Albert random graphs. We show non trivial behavior of the dependence of the mean first passage time on the proportions of the relocation nodes, target nodes and of the resetting rates. It turns out that, in the large-world case of the Watts-Strogatz graph, the efficiency of a random searcher particularly benefits from the presence of resets.

math.PR

On discrete-time arrival processes and related random motions

We consider three kinds of discrete-time arrival processes: transient, intermediate and recurrent, characterized by a finite, possibly finite and infinite number of events, respectively. In this framework, we study renewal processes which are externally stopped at an independent stopping time which may be defective or non-defective. For defective stopping time, the resulting arrival process is of intermediate nature. For non-defective stopping time, the resulting arrival process is transient, i.e. stopped almost surely. For these processes we obtain finite time and asymptotic properties. Particular attention is devoted to the class of transient renewal processes, that is, renewal processes with defective interarrival times. Among these, we consider two examples: The "Defective Bernoulli Process" and the "Defective Sibuya Process". We validate some analytical results using Monte Carlo simulations. We apply these results to biased and unbiased random walks on the $d$-dimensional infinite lattice and as a special case on the two-dimensional triangular lattice. We study the spatial propagator of the walker and its large time asymptotics. In particular, we observe the emergence of a superdiffusive (ballistic) behavior in the case of biased walks. For geometrically distributed stopping times, the propagator converges to a stationary non-equilibrium steady state (NESS), which is universal in the sense that it is independent of the stopped process. In dimension one, for both light- and heavy-tailed step distributions, the NESS has an integral representation involving alpha-stable distributions.

math.PR

Semi-Markovian discrete-time telegraph process with generalized Sibuya waiting times

In a recent work we introduced a semi-Markovian discrete-time generalization of the telegraph process. We referred this random walk to as squirrel random walk (SRW). The SRW is a discrete-time random walk on the one-dimensional infinite lattice where the step direction is reversed at arrival times of a discrete-time renewal process and remains unchanged at uneventful time instants. We first recall general notions of the SRW. The main subject of the paper is the study of the SRW where the step direction switches at the arrival times of a generalization of the Sibuya discrete-time renewal process (GSP) which only recently appeared in the literature. The waiting time density of the GSP, the `generalized Sibuya distribution' (GSD) is such that the moments are finite up to a certain order $r\leq m-1$ ($m \geq 1$) and diverging for orders $r \geq m$ capturing all behaviors from broad to narrow and containing the standard Sibuya distribution as a special case ($m=1$). We also derive some new representations for the generating functions related to the GSD. We show that the generalized Sibuya SRW exhibits several regimes of anomalous diffusion depending on the lowest order $m$ of diverging GSD moment. The generalized Sibuya SRW opens various new directions in anomalous physics.

math.PR

Squirrels can remember little: A random walk with jump reversals induced by a discrete-time renewal process

We consider a class of discrete-time random walks with directed unit steps on the integer line. The direction of the steps is reversed at the time instants of events in a discrete-time renewal process and is maintained at uneventful time instants. This model represents a discrete-time semi-Markovian generalization of the telegraph process. We derive exact formulae for the propagator using generating functions. We prove that for geometrically distributed waiting times in the diffusive limit, this walk converges to the classical telegraph process. We consider the large-time asymptotics of the expected position: For waiting time densities with finite mean the walker remains in the average localized close to the departure site whereas escapes for fat-tailed waiting-time densities (i.e. densities with infinite mean) by a sublinear power-law. We explore anomalous diffusion features by accounting for the `aging effect' as a hallmark of non-Markovianity where the discrete-time version of the `aging renewal process' comes into play. By deriving pertinent distributions of this process we obtain explicit formulae for the variance when the waiting-times are Sibuya-distributed. In this case and generally for fat-tailed waiting time PDFs a $t^2$-ballistic superdiffusive scaling emerges in the large time limit. In contrast if the waiting time PDF between the step reversals is light-tailed (`narrow' with finite mean and variance) the walk exhibits normal diffusion and for `broad' waiting time PDFs (with finite mean and infinite variance) superdiffusive large time scaling. We also consider time-changed versions where the walk is subordinated to a continuous-time point process such as the time-fractional Poisson process. This defines a new class of biased continuous-time random walks exhibiting several regimes of anomalous diffusion.

math.PR

A fractional Hawkes process II: Further characterization of the process

We characterize a Hawkes point process with kernel proportional to the probability density function of Mittag-Leffler random variables. This kernel decays as a power law with exponent $β+1 \in (1,2]$. Several analytical results can be proved, in particular for the expected intensity of the point process and for the expected number of events of the counting process. These analytical results are used to validate algorithms that numerically invert the Laplace transform of the expected intensity as well as Monte Carlo simulations of the process. Finally, Monte Carlo simulations are used to derive the full distribution of the number of events. The algorithms used for this paper are available at {\tt https://github.com/habyarimanacassien/Fractional-Hawkes}.

math.PR

Input-output consistency in integrate and fire interconnected neurons

Interspike intervals describe the output of neurons. Signal transmission in a neuronal network implies that the output of some neurons becomes the input of others. The output should reproduce the main features of the input to avoid a distortion when it becomes the input of other neurons, that is input and output should exhibit some sort of consistency. In this paper, we consider the question: how should we mathematically characterize the input in order to get a consistent output? Here we interpret the consistency by requiring the reproducibility of the input tail behaviour of the interspike intervals distributions in the output. Our answer refers to a system of interconnected neurons with stochastic perfect integrate and fire units. In particular, we show that the class of regularly-varying vectors is a possible choice to obtain such consistency. Some further necessary technical hypotheses are added.

math.PR

Asymmetric random walks with bias generated by discrete-time counting processes

We introduce a new class of asymmetric random walks on the one-dimensional infinite lattice. In this walk the direction of the jumps (positive or negative) is determined by a discrete-time renewal process which is independent of the jumps. We call this discrete-time counting process the `it generator process' of the walk. We refer the so defined walk to as `Asymmetric Discrete-Time Random Walk' (ADTRW). We highlight connections of the waiting-time density generating functions with Bell polynomials. We derive the discrete-time renewal equations governing the time-evolution of the ADTRW and analyze recurrent/transient features of simple ADTRWs (walks with unit jumps in both directions). We explore the connections of the recurrence/transience with the bias: Transient simple ADTRWs are biased and vice verse. Recurrent simple ADTRWs are either unbiased in the large time limit or `strictly unbiased' at all times with symmetric Bernoulli generator process. In this analysis we highlight the connections of bias and light-tailed/fat-tailed features of the waiting time density in the generator process. As a prototypical example with fat-tailed feature we consider the ADTRW with Sibuya distributed waiting times. We also introduce time-changed versions: We subordinate the ADTRW to a continuous-time renewal process which is independent from the generator process and the jumps to define the new class of `Asymmetric Continuous Time Random Walk' (ACTRW). This new class - apart of some special cases - is not a Montroll--Weiss continuous-time random walk (CTRW). ADTRW and ACTRW models may open large interdisciplinary fields in anomalous transport, birth-death models and others.

math.PR

Prabhakar discrete-time generalization of the time-fractional Poisson process and related random walks

In recent years a huge interdisciplinary field has emerged which is devoted to the complex dynamics of anomalous transport with long-time memory and non-markovian features. It was found that the framework of fractional calculus and its generalizations are able to capture these phenomena. Many of the classical models are based on continuous-time renewal processes and use the Montroll Weiss continuous time random walk (CTRW) approach. On the other hand their discrete time counterparts are rarely considered in the literature despite their importance in various applications. The goal of the present paper is to give a brief sketch of our recently introduced discrete-time Prabhakar generalization of the fractional Poisson process and the related discrete-time random walk (DTRW) model. We show that this counting process is connected with the continuous time Prabhakar renewal process by a (well scaled) continuous-time limit. We deduce the state probabilities and discrete time generalized fractional Kolmogorov-Feller equations governing the Prabhakar DTRW and discuss effects such as long time memory (nonmarkovianity) as a hallmark of the complexity of the process.

math.PR

A fractional generalization of the Dirichlet distribution and related distributions

This paper is devoted to a fractional generalization of the Dirichlet distribution. The form of the multivariate distribution is derived assuming that the $n$ partitions of the interval $[0,W_n]$ are independent and identically distributed random variables following the generalized Mittag-Leffler distribution. The expected value and variance of the one-dimensional marginal are derived as well as the form of its probability density function. A related generalized Dirichlet distribution is studied that provides a reasonable approximation for some values of the parameters. The relation between this distribution and other generalizations of the Dirichlet distribution is discussed. Monte Carlo simulations of the one-dimensional marginals for both distributions are presented.

math.PR

On a fractional binomial process

The classical binomial process has been studied by \citet{jakeman} (and the references therein) and has been used to characterize a series of radiation states in quantum optics. In particular, he studied a classical birth-death process where the chance of birth is proportional to the difference between a larger fixed number and the number of individuals present. It is shown that at large times, an equilibrium is reached which follows a binomial process. In this paper, the classical binomial process is generalized using the techniques of fractional calculus and is called the fractional binomial process. The fractional binomial process is shown to preserve the binomial limit at large times while expanding the class of models that include non-binomial fluctuations (non-Markovian) at regular and small times. As a direct consequence, the generality of the fractional binomial model makes the proposed model more desirable than its classical counterpart in describing real physical processes. More statistical properties are also derived.

math.PR

On Discrete Time Prabhakar-Generalized Fractional Poisson Processes and Related Stochastic Dynamics

Recently the so-called Prabhakar generalization of the fractional Poisson counting process attracted much interest for his flexibility to adapt real world situations. In this renewal process the waiting times between events are IID continuous random variables. In the present paper we analyze discrete-time counterparts: Renewal processes with integer IID interarrival times which converge in well-scaled continuous-time limits to the Prabhakar-generalized fractional Poisson process. These processes exhibit non-Markovian features and long-time memory effects. We recover for special choices of parameters the discrete-time versions of classical cases, such as the fractional Bernoulli process and the standard Bernoulli process as discrete-time approximations of the fractional Poisson and the standard Poisson process, respectively. We derive difference equations of generalized fractional type that govern these discrete time-processes where in well-scaled continuous-time limits known evolution equations of generalized fractional Prabhakar type are recovered. We also develop in Montroll-Weiss fashion the `Prabhakar Discrete-time random walk (DTRW)' as a random walk on a graph time-changed with a discrete-time version of Prabhakar renewal process. We derive the generalized fractional discrete-time Kolmogorov-Feller difference equations governing the resulting stochastic motion. Prabhakar-discrete-time processes open a promising field capturing several aspects in the dynamics of complex systems.

math.PR

Biased continuous-time random walks with Mittag-Leffler jumps

We construct admissible circulant Laplacian matrix functions as generators for strictly increasing random walks on the integer line. These Laplacian matrix functions refer to a certain class of Bernstein functions. The approach has connections with biased walks on digraphs. Within this framework, we introduce a space-time generalization of the Poisson process as a strictly increasing walk with discrete Mittag-Leffler jumps subordinated to a (continuous-time) fractional Poisson process. We call this process `{\it space-time Mittag-Leffler process}'. We derive explicit formulae for the state probabilities which solve a Cauchy problem with a Kolmogorov-Feller (forward) difference-differential equation of general fractional type. We analyze a `well-scaled' diffusion limit and obtain a Cauchy problem with a space-time convolution equation involving Mittag-Leffler densities. We deduce in this limit the `state density kernel' solving this Cauchy problem. It turns out that the diffusion limit exhibits connections to Prabhakar general fractional calculus. We also analyze in this way a generalization of the space-time fractional Mittag-Leffler process. The approach of construction of good Laplacian generator functions has a large potential in applications of space-time generalizations of the Poisson process and in the field of continuous-time random walks on digraphs.

math.PR

Flexible models for overdispersed and underdispersed count data

Within the framework of probability models for overdispersed count data, we propose the generalized fractional Poisson distribution (gfPd), which is a natural generalization of the fractional Poisson distribution (fPd), and the standard Poisson distribution. We derive some properties of gfPd and more specifically we study moments, limiting behavior and other features of fPd. The skewness suggests that fPd can be left-skewed, right-skewed or symmetric; this makes the model flexible and appealing in practice. We apply the model to real big count data and estimate the model parameters using maximum likelihood. Then, we turn to the very general class of weighted Poisson distributions (WPD's) to allow both overdispersion and underdispersion. Similarly to Kemp's generalized hypergeometric probability distribution, which is based on hypergeometric functions, we analyze a class of WPD's related to a generalization of Mittag--Leffler functions. The proposed class of distributions includes the well-known COM-Poisson and the hyper-Poisson models. We characterize conditions on the parameters allowing for overdispersion and underdispersion, and analyze two special cases of interest which have not yet appeared in the literature.

math.PR

On dynamic random graphs with degree homogenization via anti-preferential attachment probabilities

We analyze a dynamic random undirected graph in which newly added vertices are connected to those already present in the graph either using, with probability $p$, an anti-preferential attachment mechanism or, with probability $1-p$, a preferential attachment mechanism. We derive the asymptotic degree distribution in the general case and study the asymptotic behaviour of the expected degree process in the general and that of the degree process in the pure anti-preferential attachment case. Degree homogenization mainly affects convergence rates for the former case and also the limiting degree distribution in the latter.

math.PR

On the continuous-time limit of the Barabási-Albert random graph

We prove that the Barabási-Albert model converges weakly to a set of generalized Yule models via an appropriate scaling. To pursue this aim we superimpose to its graph structure a suitable set of processes that we call the planted model and we introduce an ad-hoc sampling procedure. The use of the obtained limit process represents an alternative and advantageous way of looking at some of the asymptotic properties of the Barabási-Albert random graph.

math.PR

On discrete-time semi-Markov processes

In the last years, many authors studied a class of continuous time semi-Markov processes obtained by time-changing Markov processes by hitting times of independent subordinators. Such processes are governed by integro-differential convolution equations of generalized fractional type. The aim of this paper is to develop the discrete-time version of such a theory. We show that a class of discrete-time semi-Markov chains can be seen as time-changed Markov chains and we obtain governing convolution type equations. Such processes converge weakly to those in continuous time under suitable scaling limits.

math.PR

A practical guide to Prabhakar fractional calculus

The Mittag-Leffler function is universally acclaimed as the Queen function of fractional calculus. The aim of this work is to survey the key results and applications emerging from the three-parameter generalization of this function, known as the Prabhakar function. Specifically, after reviewing key historical events that led to the discovery and modern development of this peculiar function, we discuss how the latter allows one to introduce an enhanced scheme for fractional calculus. Then, we summarize the progress in the application of this new general framework to physics and renewal processes. We also provide a collection of results on the numerical evaluation of the Prabhakar function.

math.CA