Markov renewal theory

Abstract

Consider a stochastic process X(t) (t ≧ 0) taking values in a countable state space, say, {1, 2,3, …}. To be picturesque we think of X(t) as the state which a particle is in at epoch t. Suppose the particle moves from state to state in such a way that the successive states visited form a Markov chain, and that the particle stays in a given state a random amount of time depending on the state it is in as well as on the state to be visited next. Below is a possible realization of such a process.