Tunneling and Metastability of Continuous Time Markov Chains

Tunneling and Metastability of continuous time Markov chains

We propose a new definition of metastability of Markov processes on countable state spaces. We obtain sufficient conditions for a sequence of processes to be metastable. In the reversible case these conditions are expressed in terms of the capacity and of the stationary measure of the metastable states.

Continuous Time Markov Chains

Discrete-time Markov chains are useful in simulation, since updating algorithms are easier to construct in discrete steps. They can also be useful as crude models of physical, biological, and social processes. However, in the physical and biological worlds time runs continuously, and so discrete-time mathematical models are not always appropriate. This is especially true in population biology –...

Continuous-time Markov Chains

Continuous-time homogeneous Markov chains

Verifying Continuous Time Markov Chains

We present a logical formalism for expressing properties of continuous time Markov chains. The semantics for such properties arise as a natural extension of previous work on discrete time Markov chains to continuous time. The major result is that the veriication problem is decidable; this is shown using results in algebraic and transcendental number theory.