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A New Method for Coupling Random Fields

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2010

L. A. Breyer
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YF, laird@lbreyer.com
G. O. Roberts
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YF, g.o.roberts@lancaster.ac.uk

Abstract

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Given a Markov chain, a stochastic flow that simultaneously constructs sample paths started at each possible initial value can be constructed as a composition of random fields. Here, a method is described for coupling flows by modifying an arbitrary field (consistent with the Markov chain of interest) by an independence Metropolis-Hastings iteration. The resulting stochastic flow is shown to have many desirable coalescence properties, regardless of the form of the original flow.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © London Mathematical Society 2002

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