# Generating function of the stopping time

Let $X_t$ be a generalized Wiener process with drift rate $\mu$ and variance $\sigma^2$, and let $\tau$ be the stopping time

$$\tau:=\inf \left\{ t\geq0: X_t= b\right\}, \quad b\geq0$$

Can anyone give me some insights on how to compute the generating function:

$$E[\mathrm{e}^{-\lambda\tau}], \quad \lambda\geq0$$

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Here's a solution, perhaps not in the most formal language (i.e. I may be skipping some technical details), and hopefully without any major errors.

If $\tau_b$ is the time until $X_t=b\ge0$ is reached, let us define $$F_\lambda(b)=\text{E}\left[e^{-\lambda\tau_b}\right]$$ for $\lambda>0$, with the convention that $e^{-\lambda\tau_b}=0$ if $X_t=b$ is never reached.

First, we note that $F_\lambda(0)=1$, and that $F_\lambda(b)$ is decreasing in $b$.

If $b>0$, $X_T=x$ and $X_s<b$ for $s<T$, we can let $\hat{X}_s=X_{T+s}-x$ with corresponding $\hat\tau_b=\tau_{x+b}-T$, which makes $$\text{E}_T\left[e^{-\lambda\tau_b}\middle|X_T=x\right] =\text{E}\left[e^{-\lambda(\hat\tau_{b-x}+T)}\right] =e^{-\lambda T}\cdot\text{E}\left[e^{-\lambda\hat\tau_{b-x}}\right] =e^{-\lambda T}\cdot F_\lambda(b-x).$$ However, if we let $T=dt$, and compute to the first order in $dt$, we get $$\begin{split} F_\lambda(b) =&\text{E}\left[\text{E}_{dt}\left[e^{-\lambda\tau_b}\middle|X_{dt}\right]\right] =\text{E}\left[e^{-\lambda\,dt}\cdot F_\lambda(b-X_{dt})\right] \\ =&F_\lambda(b)+dt\cdot\left\{-\lambda F_\lambda(b) -F_\lambda'(b)\,\text{E}[X_{dt}] +\tfrac{1}{2}F_\lambda''(b)\,\text{E}[X_{dt}^2] \right\} \\ =&F_\lambda(b)+dt\cdot\left\{-\lambda F_\lambda(b) -\mu F_\lambda'(b)+\tfrac{1}{2}\sigma^2 F_\lambda''(b) \right\} \end{split}$$ which provides us with the differential equation $$\lambda F_\lambda(b)+\mu F_\lambda'(b)-\tfrac{1}{2}\sigma^2 F_\lambda''(b)=0.$$ We can express the solutions of this as $\alpha_1e^{-\beta_1b}+\alpha_2e^{-\beta_2b}$ where $\beta_i$ are the roots of $\lambda-\mu\beta-\sigma^2\beta^2/2=0$. The equation has one negative and one positive root, and since $F_\lambda(b)$ is declining (towards zero) as $b$ increases only the positive $\beta$ is permitted. Applying the condition $F_\lambda(0)=1$ then leaves $$F_\lambda(b)=e^{-\beta b} \text{ where } \beta=\sqrt{\frac{\mu^2}{\sigma^4}+\frac{2\lambda}{\sigma^2}}-\frac{\mu}{\sigma^2}.$$ Note that if we set $\lambda=0$ this give the likelihood that $X_t=b$ is ever reached, which is $1$ if $\mu\ge0$.

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mejor te escribo en castellano no? Tengo problemas con el ejercicio 2 apartados 1 y 3 del tema 1, así como con el ejercicio 1 del tema 2 y el ejercicio 2 apartado d del tema 2. ¿Podrías ayudarme? Respecto al que me pides, mira este link: http://www.columbia.edu/~hz2244/teaching/Lec9.pdf A ver si hay suerte!!! Saludos

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Thank you VMS. Do you have an email address where I can send you some hints? –  RCA Sep 14 '12 at 8:46
If you want, I can provide you more solutions. –  VMS Sep 14 '12 at 10:06
Where are you RCA? Please, give me a reply.... –  VMS Sep 14 '12 at 12:21
+1 for the link but -1 for the miscellaneous discussion that doesn't relate to the question. –  Nate Eldredge Sep 23 '12 at 14:18