Self-similar growth-fragmentation models

Abstract

We look at models of fragmentation with growth. In such a model, one has a number of independent cells, each of which grows continuously in time until a fragmentation event occurs, at which point the cell splits into two child cells of a smaller mass. Each of the children is independent and behaves in the same way as its parent. The rate of fragmentation is self-similar, that is, the rate at which each cell splits is a power of the mass. This is a random model; looking at its mean-field behaviour gives the growth-fragmentation equation, which is a deterministic PDE. We describe probabilistic solutions to the equation, using growth-fragmentations and positive self-similar Markov processes. In certain cases, we see spontaneous generation of positive solutions from zero initial mass. Based on joint work with Jean Bertoin (University of Zurich).

Date
November 2016
Event
BIRS-CMO Workshop on Stable Processes
Links
Video