Fractal properties of the random string processes

Let $\{u_t(x),t\ge 0, x\in {\mathbb{R}}\}$ be a random string taking values in ${\mathbb{R}}^d$, specified by the following stochastic partial differential equation [Funaki (1983)]: $$\frac{\partial u_t(x)}{\partial t}=\frac{{\partial}^2u_t(x)}{\partial x^2}+\dot{W},$$ where $\dot{W}(x,t)$ is an ${\mathbb{R}}^d$-valued space-time white noise. Mueller and Tribe (2002) have proved necessary and sufficient conditions for the ${\mathbb{R}}^d$-valued process $\{u_t(x):t\ge 0, x\in {\mathbb{R}}\}$ to hit points and to have double points. In this paper, we continue their research by determining the Hausdorff and packing dimensions of the level sets and the sets of double times of the random string process $\{u_t(x):t\ge 0, x\in {\mathbb{R}}\}$. We also consider the Hausdorff and packing dimensions of the range and graph of the string.Comment: Published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/074921706000000806 in the IMS Lecture Notes Monograph Series (http://www.imstat.org/publications/lecnotes.htm) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Joint continuity of the local times of fractional Brownian sheets

Let $B^H=\{B^H(t),t\in{{\mathbb{R}}_+^N}\}$ be an $(N,d)$-fractional Brownian sheet with index $H=(H_1,...,H_N)\in(0,1)^N$ defined by $B^H(t)=(B^H_1(t),...,B^H_d(t)) (t\in {\mathbb{R}}_+^N),$ where $B^H_1,...,B^H_d$ are independent copies of a real-valued fractional Brownian sheet $B_0^H$. We prove that if $d<\sum_{\ell=1}^NH_{\ell}^{-1}$, then the local times of $B^H$ are jointly continuous. This verifies a conjecture of Xiao and Zhang (Probab. Theory Related Fields 124 (2002)). We also establish sharp local and global H\"{o}lder conditions for the local times of $B^H$. These results are applied to study analytic and geometric properties of the sample paths of $B^H$.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/07-AIHP131 the Annales de l'Institut Henri Poincar\'e - Probabilit\'es et Statistiques (http://www.imstat.org/aihp/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Local times of multifractional Brownian sheets

Denote by $H(t)=(H_1(t),...,H_N(t))$ a function in $t\in{\mathbb{R}}_+^N$ with values in $(0,1)^N$. Let $\{B^{H(t)}(t)\}=\{B^{H(t)}(t),t\in{\mathbb{R}}^N_+\}$ be an $(N,d)$-multifractional Brownian sheet (mfBs) with Hurst functional $H(t)$. Under some regularity conditions on the function $H(t)$, we prove the existence, joint continuity and the H\"{o}lder regularity of the local times of $\{B^{H(t)}(t)\}$. We also determine the Hausdorff dimensions of the level sets of $\{B^{H(t)}(t)\}$. Our results extend the corresponding results for fractional Brownian sheets and multifractional Brownian motion to multifractional Brownian sheets.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.3150/08-BEJ126 the Bernoulli (http://isi.cbs.nl/bernoulli/) by the International Statistical Institute/Bernoulli Society (http://isi.cbs.nl/BS/bshome.htm

Critical Brownian sheet does not have double points

We derive a decoupling formula for the Brownian sheet which has the following ready consequence: An $N$-parameter Brownian sheet in $\mathbf{R}^d$ has double points if and only if $d<4N$. In particular, in the critical case where $d=4N$, the Brownian sheet does not have double points. This answers an old problem in the folklore of the subject. We also discuss some of the geometric consequences of the mentioned decoupling, and establish a partial result concerning $k$-multiple points in the critical case $k(d-2N)=d$.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/11-AOP665 the Annals of Probability (http://www.imstat.org/aop/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org