Let X be an irreducible, non-explosive, continuous-time Markov process on the state space Z with generator Q=(qx,y)x,y∈Z.
(a) Define its jump chain Y and prove that it is a discrete-time Markov chain.
(b) Define what it means for X to be recurrent and prove that X is recurrent if and only if its jump chain Y is recurrent. Prove also that this is the case if the transition semigroup (px,y(t)) satisfies
∫0∞p0,0(t)dt=∞
(c) Show that X is recurrent for at least one of the following generators:
qx,y=(1+∣x∣)−2e−∣x−y∣2qx,y=(1+∣x−y∣)−2e−∣x∣2(x=y),(x=y).
[Hint: You may use that the semigroup associated with a Q-matrix on Z such that qx,y depends only on x−y (and has sufficient decay) can be written as
px,y(t)=2π1∫−ππe−tλ(k)eik(x−y)dk
where λ(k)=∑yq0,y(1−eiky). You may also find the bound 1−cosx⩽x2/2 useful. ]