Probability Theory and Stochastic Modelling – serie

This monograph, now in a thoroughly revised second edition, offers the latest research on random sets. It has been extended to include substantial developments achieved since 2005, some of them motivated by applications of random sets to econometrics and finance.The present volume builds on the foundations laid by Matheron and others, including the vast advances in stochastic geometry, probability theory, set-valued analysis, and statistical inference. It shows the various interdisciplinary relationships of random set theory within other parts of mathematics, and at the same time fixes terminology and notation that often vary in the literature, establishing it as a natural part of modern probability theory and providing a platform for future development. It is completely self-contained, systematic and exhaustive, with the full proofs that are necessary to gain insight.Aimed at research level, Theory of Random Sets will be an invaluable reference for probabilists; mathematicians working in convex and integral geometry, set-valued analysis, capacity and potential theory; mathematical statisticians in spatial statistics and uncertainty quantification; specialists in mathematical economics, econometrics, decision theory, and mathematical finance; and electronic and electrical engineers interested in image analysis.

This monograph, now in a thoroughly revised second edition, offers the latest research on random sets. It has been extended to include substantial developments achieved since 2005, some of them motivated by applications of random sets to econometrics and finance.The present volume builds on the foundations laid by Matheron and others, including the vast advances in stochastic geometry, probability theory, set-valued analysis, and statistical inference. It shows the various interdisciplinary relationships of random set theory within other parts of mathematics, and at the same time fixes terminology and notation that often vary in the literature, establishing it as a natural part of modern probability theory and providing a platform for future development. It is completely self-contained, systematic and exhaustive, with the full proofs that are necessary to gain insight.Aimed at research level, Theory of Random Sets will be an invaluable reference for probabilists; mathematicians working in convex and integral geometry, set-valued analysis, capacity and potential theory; mathematical statisticians in spatial statistics and uncertainty quantification; specialists in mathematical economics, econometrics, decision theory, and mathematical finance; and electronic and electrical engineers interested in image analysis.

This monograph is a sequel to Brownian Motion and Stochastic Calculus by the same authors. Within the context of Brownian-motion-driven asset prices, it develops contingent claim pricing and optimal consumption/investment in both complete and incomplete markets.  The latter topic is extended to the study of complete market equilibrium, providing conditions for the existence and uniqueness of market prices which support trading by several heterogeneous agents. Although much of the incomplete-market material is available in research papers, these topics are treated for the first time in a unified manner. The book contains an extensive set of references and notes describing the field, including topics not treated in the text. This monograph should be of interest to researchers wishing to see advanced mathematics applied to finance. The material on optimal consumption and investment, leading to equilibrium, is addressed to the theoretical finance community. Thechapters on contingent claim valuation present techniques of practical importance, especially for pricing exotic options.The present corrected printing includes, besides other minor corrections, an important correction of Theorem 6.4 and a simplification of the proof of Lemma 6.5. Also available by Ioannis Karatzas and Steven E. Shreve, Brownian Motion and Stochastic Calculus, Second Edition, Springer-Verlag New York, Inc., 1991, 470 pp., ISBN 0-387- 97655-8.

This book contains an in-depth treatment of matrix-exponential (ME) distributions and their sub-class of phase-type (PH) distributions. Loosely speaking, an ME distribution  is obtained through replacing the intensity parameter in an exponential distribution by a matrix. The ME distributions can also be identified as the class of non-negative distributions with rational Laplace transforms. If the matrix has the structure of a sub-intensity matrix for a Markov jump process we obtain a PH distribution which allows for nice probabilistic interpretations facilitating the derivation of exact solutions and closed form formulas.The full potential of ME and PH unfolds in their use in stochastic modelling. Several chapters on generic applications, like renewal theory, random walks and regenerative processes, are included together with some specific examples from queueing theory and insurance risk. We emphasize our intention towards applications by including an extensive treatmenton statistical methods for PH distributions and related processes that will allow practitioners to calibrate models to real data.Aimed as a textbook for graduate students in applied probability and statistics, the book provides all the necessary background on Poisson processes, Markov chains, jump processes, martingales and re-generative methods. It is our hope that the provided background may encourage researchers and practitioners from other fields, like biology, genetics and medicine, who wish to become acquainted with the matrix-exponential method and its applications.

This book provides a systematic and accessible approach to stochastic differential equations, backward stochastic differential equations, and their connection with partial differential equations, as well as the recent development of the fully nonlinear theory, including nonlinear expectation, second order backward stochastic differential equations, and path dependent partial differential equations. Their main applications and numerical algorithms, as well as many exercises, are included.The book focuses on ideas and clarity, with most results having been solved from scratch and most theories being motivated from applications. It can be considered a starting point for junior researchers in the field, and can serve as a textbook for a two-semester graduate course in probability theory and stochastic analysis. It is also accessible for graduate students majoring in financial engineering.

This book contains an in-depth treatment of matrix-exponential (ME) distributions and their sub-class of phase-type (PH) distributions. Loosely speaking, an ME distribution  is obtained through replacing the intensity parameter in an exponential distribution by a matrix. The ME distributions can also be identified as the class of non-negative distributions with rational Laplace transforms. If the matrix has the structure of a sub-intensity matrix for a Markov jump process we obtain a PH distribution which allows for nice probabilistic interpretations facilitating the derivation of exact solutions and closed form formulas.The full potential of ME and PH unfolds in their use in stochastic modelling. Several chapters on generic applications, like renewal theory, random walks and regenerative processes, are included together with some specific examples from queueing theory and insurance risk. We emphasize our intention towards applications by including an extensive treatmenton statistical methods for PH distributions and related processes that will allow practitioners to calibrate models to real data.Aimed as a textbook for graduate students in applied probability and statistics, the book provides all the necessary background on Poisson processes, Markov chains, jump processes, martingales and re-generative methods. It is our hope that the provided background may encourage researchers and practitioners from other fields, like biology, genetics and medicine, who wish to become acquainted with the matrix-exponential method and its applications.

This book provides a systematic and accessible approach to stochastic differential equations, backward stochastic differential equations, and their connection with partial differential equations, as well as the recent development of the fully nonlinear theory, including nonlinear expectation, second order backward stochastic differential equations, and path dependent partial differential equations. Their main applications and numerical algorithms, as well as many exercises, are included.The book focuses on ideas and clarity, with most results having been solved from scratch and most theories being motivated from applications. It can be considered a starting point for junior researchers in the field, and can serve as a textbook for a two-semester graduate course in probability theory and stochastic analysis. It is also accessible for graduate students majoring in financial engineering.

This book undertakes a detailed construction of Dynamic Markov Bridges using a combination of theory and real-world applications to drive home important concepts and methodologies. In Part I, theory is developed using tools from stochastic filtering, partial differential equations, Markov processes, and their interplay. Part II is devoted to the applications of the theory developed in Part I to asymmetric information models among financial agents, which include a strategic risk-neutral insider who possesses a private signal concerning the future value of the traded asset, non-strategic noise traders, and competitive risk-neutral market makers. A thorough analysis of optimality conditions for risk-neutral insiders  is provided and the implications on equilibrium of non-Gaussian extensions are discussed.A Markov bridge, first considered by Paul Lévy in the context of Brownian motion, is a mathematical system that undergoeschanges in value from one state to another when the initial and final states are fixed. Markov bridges have many applications as stochastic models of real-world processes, especially within the areas of Economics and Finance. The construction of a Dynamic Markov Bridge, a useful extension of Markov bridge theory, addresses several important questions concerning how financial markets function, among them: how the presence of an insider trader impacts market efficiency; how insider trading on financial markets can be detected; how information assimilates in market prices; and the optimal pricing policy of a particular market maker.Principles in this book will appeal to probabilists, statisticians, economists, researchers, and graduate students interested in Markov bridges and market microstructure theory.

This book undertakes a detailed construction of Dynamic Markov Bridges using a combination of theory and real-world applications to drive home important concepts and methodologies. In Part I, theory is developed using tools from stochastic filtering, partial differential equations, Markov processes, and their interplay. Part II is devoted to the applications of the theory developed in Part I to asymmetric information models among financial agents, which include a strategic risk-neutral insider who possesses a private signal concerning the future value of the traded asset, non-strategic noise traders, and competitive risk-neutral market makers. A thorough analysis of optimality conditions for risk-neutral insiders  is provided and the implications on equilibrium of non-Gaussian extensions are discussed.A Markov bridge, first considered by Paul Lévy in the context of Brownian motion, is a mathematical system that undergoeschanges in value from one state to another when the initial and final states are fixed. Markov bridges have many applications as stochastic models of real-world processes, especially within the areas of Economics and Finance. The construction of a Dynamic Markov Bridge, a useful extension of Markov bridge theory, addresses several important questions concerning how financial markets function, among them: how the presence of an insider trader impacts market efficiency; how insider trading on financial markets can be detected; how information assimilates in market prices; and the optimal pricing policy of a particular market maker.Principles in this book will appeal to probabilists, statisticians, economists, researchers, and graduate students interested in Markov bridges and market microstructure theory.

This book presents broadly applicable methods for the large deviation and moderate deviation analysis of discrete and continuous time stochastic systems. A feature of the book is the systematic use of variational representations for quantities of interest such as normalized logarithms of probabilities and expected values.  By characterizing a large deviation principle in terms of Laplace asymptotics, one converts the proof of large deviation limits into the convergence of variational representations. These features are illustrated though their application to a broad range of discrete and continuous time models, including stochastic partial differential equations, processes with discontinuous statistics, occupancy models, and many others. The tools used in the large deviation analysis also turn out to be useful in understanding Monte Carlo schemes for the numerical approximation of the same probabilities and expected values. This connection is illustrated through the design and analysis of importance sampling and splitting schemes for rare event estimation.  The book assumes a solid background in weak convergence of probability measures and stochastic analysis, and is suitable for advanced graduate students, postdocs and researchers.

This monograph focuses on those stochastic quickest detection tasks in disorder problems that arise in the dynamical analysis of statistical data. These include quickest detection of randomly appearing targets, of spontaneously arising effects, and of arbitrage (in financial mathematics). There is also currently great interest in quickest detection methods for randomly occurring intrusions in information systems and in the design of defense methods against cyber-attacks. The author shows that the majority of quickest detection problems can be reformulated as optimal stopping problems where the stopping time is the moment the occurrence of disorder is signaled. Thus, considerable attention is devoted to the general theory of optimal stopping rules, and to its concrete problem-solving methods.The exposition covers both the discrete time case, which is in principle relatively simple and allows step-by-step considerations, and the continuous-time case, which often requires more technical machinery such as martingales, supermartingales, and stochastic integrals. There is a focus on the well-developed apparatus of Brownian motion, which enables the exact solution of many problems. The last chapter presents applications to financial markets.Researchers and graduate students interested in probability, decision theory and statistical sequential analysis will find this book useful.

Drawing on advanced probability theory, Ambit Stochastics is used to model stochastic processes which depend on both time and space. This monograph, the first on the subject, provides a reference for this burgeoning field, complete with the applications that have driven its development.Unique to Ambit Stochastics are ambit sets, which allow the delimitation of space-time to a zone of interest, and ambit fields, which are particularly well-adapted to modelling stochastic volatility or intermittency. These attributes lend themselves notably to applications in the statistical theory of turbulence and financial econometrics. In addition to the theory and applications of Ambit Stochastics, the book also contains new theory on the simulation of ambit fields and a comprehensive stochastic integration theory for Volterra processes in a non-semimartingale context.Written by pioneers in the subject, this book will appeal to researchers and graduate students interested in empirical stochastic modelling.

This monograph, now in a thoroughly revised second edition, develops the theory of stochastic calculus in Hilbert spaces and applies the results to the study of generalized solutions of stochastic parabolic equations.The emphasis lies on second-order stochastic parabolic equations and their connection to random dynamical systems. The authors further explore applications to the theory of optimal non-linear filtering, prediction, and smoothing of partially observed diffusion processes. The new edition now also includes a chapter on chaos expansion for linear stochastic evolution systems.This book will appeal to anyone working in disciplines that require tools from stochastic analysis and PDEs, including pure mathematics, financial mathematics, engineering and physics.

One of the main aims of this book is to exhibit some fruitful links between renewal theory and regular variation of functions. Applications of renewal processes play a key role in actuarial and financial mathematics as well as in engineering, operations research and other fields of applied mathematics. On the other hand, regular variation of functions is a property that features prominently in many fields of mathematics.The structure of the book reflects the historical development of the authors’ research work and approach – first some applications are discussed, after which a basic theory is created, and finally further applications are provided. The authors present a generalized and unified approach to the asymptotic behavior of renewal processes, involving cases of dependent inter-arrival times. This method works for other important functionals as well, such as first and last exit times or sojourn times (also under dependencies), and it can be used to solve several other problems. For example, various applications in function analysis concerning Abelian and Tauberian theorems can be studied as well as those in studies of the asymptotic behavior of solutions of stochastic differential equations. The classes of functions that are investigated and used in a probabilistic context extend the well-known Karamata theory of regularly varying functions and thus are also of interest in the theory of functions. The book provides a rigorous treatment of the subject and may serve as an introduction to the field. It is aimed at researchers and students working in probability, the theory of stochastic processes, operations research, mathematical statistics, the theory of functions, analytic number theory and complex analysis, as well as economists with a mathematical background. Readers should have completed introductory courses in analysis and probability theory.

This two-volume book offers a comprehensive treatment of the probabilistic approach to mean field game models and their applications. The book is self-contained in nature and includes original material and applications with explicit examples throughout, including numerical solutions.Volume II tackles the analysis of mean field games in which the players are affected by a common source of noise. The first part of the volume introduces and studies the concepts of weak and strong equilibria, and establishes general solvability results. The second part is devoted to the study of the master equation, a partial differential equation satisfied by the value function of the game over the space of probability measures. Existence of viscosity and classical solutions are proven and used to study asymptotics of games with finitely many players.Together, both Volume I and Volume II will greatly benefit mathematical graduate students and researchers interested in mean field games. The authors provide a detailed road map through the book allowing different access points for different readers and building up the level of technical detail. The accessible approach and overview will allow interested researchers in the applied sciences to obtain a clear overview of the state of the art in mean field games.

This two-volume book offers a comprehensive treatment of the probabilistic approach to mean field game models and their applications. The book is self-contained in nature and includes original material and applications with explicit examples throughout, including numerical solutions.Volume I of the book is entirely devoted to the theory of mean field games without a common noise. The first half of the volume provides a self-contained introduction to mean field games, starting from concrete illustrations of games with a finite number of players, and ending with ready-for-use solvability results. Readers are provided with the tools necessary for the solution of forward-backward stochastic differential equations of the McKean-Vlasov type at the core of the probabilistic approach. The second half of this volume focuses on the main principles of analysis on the Wasserstein space. It includes Lions' approach to the Wasserstein differential calculus, and the applications of its resultsto the analysis of stochastic mean field control problems.  Together, both Volume I and Volume II will greatly benefit mathematical graduate students and researchers interested in mean field games. The authors provide a detailed road map through the book allowing different access points for different readers and building up the level of technical detail. The accessible approach and overview will allow interested researchers in the applied sciences to obtain a clear overview of the state of the art in mean field games.

This textbook provides a broad overview of the present state of insurance mathematics and some related topics in risk management, financial mathematics and probability. Both non-life and life aspects are covered. The emphasis is on probability and modeling rather than statistics and practical implementation. Aimed at the graduate level, pointing in part to current research topics, it can potentially replace other textbooks on basic non-life insurance mathematics and advanced risk management methods in non-life insurance. Based on chapters selected according to the particular topics in mind, the book may serve as a source for introductory courses to insurance mathematics for non-specialists, advanced courses for actuarial students, or courses on probabilistic aspects of risk.  It will also be useful for practitioners and students/researchers in related areas such as finance and statistics who wish to get an overview of the general area of mathematical modeling and analysis in insurance.

This textbook provides a broad overview of the present state of insurance mathematics and some related topics in risk management, financial mathematics and probability. Both non-life and life aspects are covered. The emphasis is on probability and modeling rather than statistics and practical implementation. Aimed at the graduate level, pointing in part to current research topics, it can potentially replace other textbooks on basic non-life insurance mathematics and advanced risk management methods in non-life insurance. Based on chapters selected according to the particular topics in mind, the book may serve as a source for introductory courses to insurance mathematics for non-specialists, advanced courses for actuarial students, or courses on probabilistic aspects of risk.  It will also be useful for practitioners and students/researchers in related areas such as finance and statistics who wish to get an overview of the general area of mathematical modeling and analysis in insurance.

This book offers a systematic and rigorous treatment of continuous-time Markov decision processes, covering both theory and possible applications to queueing systems, epidemiology, finance, and other fields. Unlike most books on the subject, much attention is paid to problems with functional constraints and the realizability of strategies.Three major methods of investigations are presented, based on dynamic programming, linear programming, and reduction to discrete-time problems. Although the main focus is on models with total (discounted or undiscounted) cost criteria, models with average cost criteria and with impulsive controls are also discussed in depth.The book is self-contained. A separate chapter is devoted to Markov pure jump processes and the appendices collect the requisite background on real analysis and applied probability. All the statements in the main text are proved in detail.Researchers and graduate students in applied probability, operational research, statistics and engineering will find this monograph interesting, useful and valuable.

This book offers a systematic and rigorous treatment of continuous-time Markov decision processes, covering both theory and possible applications to queueing systems, epidemiology, finance, and other fields. Unlike most books on the subject, much attention is paid to problems with functional constraints and the realizability of strategies.Three major methods of investigations are presented, based on dynamic programming, linear programming, and reduction to discrete-time problems. Although the main focus is on models with total (discounted or undiscounted) cost criteria, models with average cost criteria and with impulsive controls are also discussed in depth.The book is self-contained. A separate chapter is devoted to Markov pure jump processes and the appendices collect the requisite background on real analysis and applied probability. All the statements in the main text are proved in detail.Researchers and graduate students in applied probability, operational research, statistics and engineering will find this monograph interesting, useful and valuable.

This new, thoroughly revised and expanded 3rd edition of a classic gives a comprehensive coverage of modern probability in a single book. It is a truly modern text, providing not only classical results but also material that will be important for future research. Much has been added to the previous edition, including eight entirely new chapters on subjects like random measures, Malliavin calculus, multivariate arrays, and stochastic differential geometry. Apart from important improvements and revisions, some of the earlier chapters have been entirely rewritten. To help the reader, the material has been grouped together into ten major areas, each arguably indispensable to any serious graduate student and researcher, regardless of their specialization. Each chapter is largely self-contained and includes plenty of exercises, making the book ideal for self-study and for designing graduate-level courses and seminars in different areas and at different levels. Extensive notes and a detailed bibliography make it easy to go beyond the presented material if desired.From the reviews of the first edition:“…readers are likely to regard the book as an ideal reference. Indeed the monograph has the potential to become a (possibly even “the”) major reference book on large parts of probability theory for the next decade or more.” M. Scheutzow, zbMATH“…great edifice of material, clearly and ingeniously presented, without any non-mathematical distractions. Readers … are in very capable hands.” F. B. Knight, Mathemtical Reviews“… this is precisely what Professor Kallenberg has attempted … and he has accomplished it brilliantly... It is astonishing that a single volume of just over five hundred pages could contain so much material presented with complete rigor and still be at least formally self-contained..." R.K. Getoor, MetrikaFrom the reviews of the second edition:“This … edition presents … more material in the concise and elegant style of the former edition which by now has become a highly praised standard reference book for many areas of probability theory.” M. Reiß, zbMATH“…the … monograph is a modern classic in probability theory…  …every … expert in one of the various topics covered by this monograph will reconsider his own point of view and gain deeper insight into his subject.” Klaus D. Schmidt, Mathematical Reviews

This new, thoroughly revised and expanded 3rd edition of a classic gives a comprehensive coverage of modern probability in a single book. It is a truly modern text, providing not only classical results but also material that will be important for future research. Much has been added to the previous edition, including eight entirely new chapters on subjects like random measures, Malliavin calculus, multivariate arrays, and stochastic differential geometry. Apart from important improvements and revisions, some of the earlier chapters have been entirely rewritten. To help the reader, the material has been grouped together into ten major areas, each arguably indispensable to any serious graduate student and researcher, regardless of their specialization. Each chapter is largely self-contained and includes plenty of exercises, making the book ideal for self-study and for designing graduate-level courses and seminars in different areas and at different levels. Extensive notes and a detailed bibliography make it easy to go beyond the presented material if desired.From the reviews of the first edition:“…readers are likely to regard the book as an ideal reference. Indeed the monograph has the potential to become a (possibly even “the”) major reference book on large parts of probability theory for the next decade or more.” M. Scheutzow, zbMATH“…great edifice of material, clearly and ingeniously presented, without any non-mathematical distractions. Readers … are in very capable hands.” F. B. Knight, Mathemtical Reviews“… this is precisely what Professor Kallenberg has attempted … and he has accomplished it brilliantly... It is astonishing that a single volume of just over five hundred pages could contain so much material presented with complete rigor and still be at least formally self-contained..." R.K. Getoor, MetrikaFrom the reviews of the second edition:“This … edition presents … more material in the concise and elegant style of the former edition which by now has become a highly praised standard reference book for many areas of probability theory.” M. Reiß, zbMATH“…the … monograph is a modern classic in probability theory…  …every … expert in one of the various topics covered by this monograph will reconsider his own point of view and gain deeper insight into his subject.” Klaus D. Schmidt, Mathematical Reviews

This book provides an introduction to the theory and applications of point processes, both in time and in space. Presenting the two components of point process calculus, the martingale calculus and the Palm calculus, it aims to develop the computational skills needed for the study of stochastic models involving point processes, providing enough of the general theory for the reader to reach a technical level sufficient for most applications. Classical and not-so-classical models are examined in detail, including Poisson–Cox, renewal, cluster and branching (Kerstan–Hawkes) point processes.The applications covered in this text (queueing, information theory, stochastic geometry and signal analysis) have been chosen not only for their intrinsic interest but also because they illustrate the theory. Written in a rigorous but not overly abstract style, the book will be accessible to earnest beginners with a basic training in probability but will also interest upper graduate students and experienced researchers.

This book provides an introduction to the theory and applications of point processes, both in time and in space. Presenting the two components of point process calculus, the martingale calculus and the Palm calculus, it aims to develop the computational skills needed for the study of stochastic models involving point processes, providing enough of the general theory for the reader to reach a technical level sufficient for most applications. Classical and not-so-classical models are examined in detail, including Poisson–Cox, renewal, cluster and branching (Kerstan–Hawkes) point processes.The applications covered in this text (queueing, information theory, stochastic geometry and signal analysis) have been chosen not only for their intrinsic interest but also because they illustrate the theory. Written in a rigorous but not overly abstract style, the book will be accessible to earnest beginners with a basic training in probability but will also interest upper graduate students and experienced researchers.

This book is aimed at researchers, graduate students and engineers who would like to be initiated to Piecewise Deterministic Markov Processes (PDMPs). A PDMP models a deterministic mechanism modified by jumps that occur at random times. The fields of applications are numerous : insurance and risk, biology, communication networks, dependability, supply management, etc.  Indeed, the PDMPs studied so far are in fact deterministic functions of CSMPs (Completed Semi-Markov Processes), i.e. semi-Markov processes completed to become Markov processes. This remark leads to considerably broaden the definition of PDMPs and allows their properties to be deduced from those of CSMPs, which are easier to grasp. Stability is studied within a very general framework. In the other chapters, the results become more accurate as the assumptions become more precise. Generalized Chapman-Kolmogorov equations lead to numerical schemes.  The last chapter is an opening on processes for which the deterministic flow of the PDMP is replaced with a Markov process. Marked point processes play a key role throughout this book.

This book is aimed at researchers, graduate students and engineers who would like to be initiated to Piecewise Deterministic Markov Processes (PDMPs). A PDMP models a deterministic mechanism modified by jumps that occur at random times. The fields of applications are numerous : insurance and risk, biology, communication networks, dependability, supply management, etc.  Indeed, the PDMPs studied so far are in fact deterministic functions of CSMPs (Completed Semi-Markov Processes), i.e. semi-Markov processes completed to become Markov processes. This remark leads to considerably broaden the definition of PDMPs and allows their properties to be deduced from those of CSMPs, which are easier to grasp. Stability is studied within a very general framework. In the other chapters, the results become more accurate as the assumptions become more precise. Generalized Chapman-Kolmogorov equations lead to numerical schemes.  The last chapter is an opening on processes for which the deterministic flow of the PDMP is replaced with a Markov process. Marked point processes play a key role throughout this book.

This is the first book to systematically present control theory for stochastic distributed parameter systems, a comparatively new branch of mathematical control theory. The new phenomena and difficulties arising in the study of controllability and optimal control problems for this type of system are explained in detail. Interestingly enough, one has to develop new mathematical tools to solve some problems in this field, such as the global Carleman estimate for stochastic partial differential equations and the stochastic transposition method for backward stochastic evolution equations. In a certain sense, the stochastic distributed parameter control system is the most general control system in the context of classical physics. Accordingly, studying this field may also yield valuable insights into quantum control systems.A basic grasp of functional analysis, partial differential equations, and control theory for deterministic systems is the only prerequisite for reading this book.

This is the first book to systematically present control theory for stochastic distributed parameter systems, a comparatively new branch of mathematical control theory. The new phenomena and difficulties arising in the study of controllability and optimal control problems for this type of system are explained in detail. Interestingly enough, one has to develop new mathematical tools to solve some problems in this field, such as the global Carleman estimate for stochastic partial differential equations and the stochastic transposition method for backward stochastic evolution equations. In a certain sense, the stochastic distributed parameter control system is the most general control system in the context of classical physics. Accordingly, studying this field may also yield valuable insights into quantum control systems.A basic grasp of functional analysis, partial differential equations, and control theory for deterministic systems is the only prerequisite for reading this book.

This monograph studies a series of mathematical models of the evolution of a population under mutation and selection. Its starting point is the quasispecies equation, a general non-linear equation which describes the mutation-selection equilibrium in Manfred Eigen’s famous quasispecies model. A detailed analysis of this equation is given under the assumptions of finite genotype space, sharp peak landscape, and class-dependent fitness landscapes. Different probabilistic representation formulae are derived for its solution, involving classical combinatorial quantities like Stirling and Euler numbers.It is shown how quasispecies and error threshold phenomena emerge in finite population models, and full mathematical proofs are provided in the case of the Wright–Fisher model. Along the way, exact formulas are obtained for the quasispecies distribution in the long chain regime, on the sharp peak landscape and on class-dependent fitness landscapes.Finally, several other classical population models are analyzed, with a focus on their dynamical behavior and their links to the quasispecies equation. This book will be of interest to mathematicians and theoretical ecologists/biologists working with finite population models.