Poisson Point Processes and Their Application to Markov Processes [Paperback]

An extension problem (often called a boundary problem) of Markov processes has been studied, particularly in the case of one-dimensional diffusion processes, by W. Feller, K. It?, and H. P. McKean, among others. In this book, It? discussed a case of a general Markov process with state space S and a specified point a  S?called a boundary. The problem is to obtain all possible recurrent extensions of a given minimal process?(i.e., the process on S \ {a} which is absorbed on reaching the boundary a). The study in this lecture is restricted to a simpler case of the boundary a being a discontinuous entrance point, leaving a more general case of a continuous entrance point to future works. He established a one-to-one correspondence between a recurrent extension and a pair of a positive measure k(db) on?S?\?{a}?(called the jumping-in measure and a non-negative number m< (called the stagnancy rate). The necessary and sufficient conditions for a pair k, m was obtained so that the correspondence is precisely described. For this, It? used, ?as a fundamental tool, the notion of Poisson point processes formed of all excursions of ?the process on?S?\?{a}. This theory of It?'s of Poisson point processes of excursions is indeed a breakthrough. It has been expanded and applied to more general extension problems by many succeeding researchers. Thus we may say that this lecture note by It? is really a memorial work in the extension problems of Markov processes. Especially in Chapter 1 of this note, a general theory of Poisson point processes is given that reminds us of It?'s beautiful and impressive lectures in his day.1. Poisson point processes.- 2. Application to Markov Process.
The main idea of this volume has had a profound influence on the boundary theory of Markov processes. This volume is beautifully written and it is a pleasure to read. (Ren Ming Song, Mathematical Reviews, December, 2016)?