Left-continuous random walk on $\mathbb{Z}$ and the parity of its hitting times

Abstract

When it comes to random walk on the integers $\mathbb{Z}$, the arguably first step of generalization beyond simple random walk is the class of one-sidedly continuous random walk, where the stepsize in only one direction is bounded by 1. Moreover, the time until state 0 is hit by left-continuous random walk on $\mathbb{Z}$ has a direct connection to the total progeny in branching processes. In this article, the probability of left-continuous random walk to be negative at an even (resp.\ odd) time is derived and used to determine the probability of nearly left-continuous random walk to eventually become negative.

14 pages, 4 figures