Iterated Random Functions∗
SIAM REVIEW c 1999 Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics Vol. 41, No. 1, pp. 45–76 Iterated Random Functions∗ Persi Diaconisy David Freedmanz Abstract. Iterated random functions are used to draw pictures or simulate large Ising models, among other applications. They offer a method for studying the steady state distribution of a Markov chain, and give useful bounds on rates of convergence in a variety of examples. The present paper surveys the field and presents some new examples. There is a simple unifying idea: the iterates of random Lipschitz functions converge if the functions are contracting on the average. Key words. Markov chains, products of random matrices, iterated function systems, coupling from the past AMS subject classifications. 60J05, 60F05 PII. S0036144598338446 1. Introduction. The applied probability literature is nowadays quite daunting. Even relatively simple topics, like Markov chains, have generated enormous complex- ity. This paper describes a simple idea that helps to unify many arguments in Markov chains, simulation algorithms, control theory, queuing, and other branches of applied probability. The idea is that Markov chains can be constructed by iterating random functions on the state space S. More specifically, there is a family fθ : θ Θ of functions that map S into itself, and a probability distribution µ onf Θ. If the2 chaing is at x S, it moves by choosing θ at random from µ, and going to fθ(x). For now, µ does2 not depend on x. The process can be written as X0 = x0;X1 = fθ1 (x0);X2 =(fθ2 fθ1 )(x0); :::, with for composition of functions.
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