1
$\begingroup$

Let $X_1,...,X_n$ be iid random variables uniformly distributed on $[-1,1]$. Now let's put $$Y_n = \frac{sgn X_n}{|X_n|^{1/\alpha}}, \, n= 1,2,...,$$ with a set value $\alpha \in (0,2)$.

The goal is to:

$\textbf{(a)}$ Show that $Z_n := \frac{Y_1 + ... + Y_n}{n^{1/\alpha}} $ converges by distribution.

$\textbf{(b)}$ Find the characteristic function of the limit.

And that would mean that the limiting distribution is stable as it has its own domain of attraction consisting of $Z_n$.

My best guess is to do this by showing that the characteristic function of $Z_n$ converges to a certain function that's continuous at $t=0$ and then using the Levy's continuity theorem (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9vy's_continuity_theorem), but I was sadly unable to do so.

Do You perhaps have other ideas that would answer this problem or maybe it's indeed solvable by Levy's theorem? If so, how?

Edit:

I've calculated that the characteristic function of $Z_n$ should be: $$\phi_{Z_n}(u) = \left[ \frac{1}{2} \int_0^1 exp(iu \frac{-1}{x^{1/\alpha}} n^{-\frac{1}{\alpha}}) dx + \frac{1}{2} \int_0^1 exp(iu \frac{1}{x^{1/\alpha}} n^{-\frac{1}{\alpha}}) dx \right]^n,$$ which is $$\left[ \int_0^1 cos \left( \frac{ u}{(xn)^{1/\alpha}} \right) dx \right]^n$$

Edit 2:

I've found an answered question that shows what the limit should be, but still doesn't have what I need. Symmetric alpha stable distributions with $X_1+X_2+\cdots+X_n \stackrel{d}{=} n^{1/\alpha}X$ as definition

$\endgroup$
9
  • $\begingroup$ Were you able to get an expression for the characteristic function of $Y_i$? $\endgroup$ Jan 20, 2021 at 16:52
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @TeresaLisbon No :/ The sgn and |*| functions are giving me a really hard time in finding the characteristic function rigoristically. $\endgroup$
    – Dagon
    Jan 20, 2021 at 16:59
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ It was asked as an exercise under the chapter about Levy's theorem in my uni's lecture notes. $\endgroup$
    – Dagon
    Jan 20, 2021 at 17:21
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @TeresaLisbon I've placed an edit with the corrected characteristic $\endgroup$
    – Dagon
    Jan 20, 2021 at 17:54
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @TeresaLisbon I've added further calculations. Sorry that my previous characteristic was wrong, now it should be proper. $\endgroup$
    – Dagon
    Jan 20, 2021 at 18:18

1 Answer 1

1
$\begingroup$

Problem Let $ X_1,X_2,\cdots $ be a sequence of iid random variables uniformly distributed on $ [-1,1] $. Now let's put \begin{equation*} Y_n=\frac{\mathrm{sgn}X_n}{|X_n|^{1/\alpha}}, \qquad n\ge 1, \end{equation*} with a set value $ \alpha\in(0,2) $.

(a) Show that $ Z_n=\frac{Y_1+\cdots+Y_n}{n^{1/\alpha}} $ converges by distribution.

(b) Find the characteristic function of the limit.

And that would mean that the limiting distribution is stable as it has its own domain of attribution consisting of $ Z_n $

Answer Let $$ \phi_n(t)=\mathsf{E}\Big[\exp\Big(\frac{itY_1}{n^{1/\alpha}}\Big)\Big] =\int_{0}^{1}\cos\Big(\frac{t}{(xn)^{1/\alpha}}\Big)dx. $$ Then $$ \phi_{Z_n}(t)=\mathsf{E}[\exp(itZ_n)]=(\phi_n(t))^n. $$ Meanwhile, \begin{align*} n[1-\phi_n(t)]&=n\int_0^1\Big[1-\cos\Big(\frac{t}{(nx)^{1/\alpha}}\Big)\Big]\,dx\\ &=\alpha |t|^\alpha\int_{|t|/n^{1/\alpha}}^{\infty}\frac{1-\cos(z)}{z^{\alpha +1}}\,dz\\ &\to C(\alpha) |t|^\alpha, \qquad \text{as}\quad n\to\infty. \end{align*} where(cf. Sato, Lévy Processes and Infinitively Divisible Distributions, Cambridge University Press, 1999, Lemma 14.1 p.84, or Y. S. Chow & H. Teicher, Probability Theory, 3rd ed., Springer Verlag, 1997, p.469--.) \begin{align*} C(\alpha)&=\alpha\int_{0}^{\infty}\frac{1-\cos(z)}{z^{\alpha +1}}\,dz\\ &=\begin{cases} \cos\Big(\dfrac{\alpha\pi}{2}\Big)\Gamma(1-\alpha),& \alpha \in (0,1)\cup(1,2)\\ \quad\dfrac{\pi}{2}, &\alpha=1. \end{cases} \end{align*} Then $$ \lim_{n\to\infty}\phi_{Z_n}(t)=\lim_{n\to\infty}[1-(1-\phi_n(t))]^n=\exp[-C(\alpha) |t|^\alpha]. $$

$\endgroup$

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .