Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T09:29:29.979Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

XXI.—The Statistical Theory of Stiff Chains

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 February 2012

H. E. Daniels
Affiliation:
Statistical Laboratory, University of Cambridge.

Synopsis

The paper is concerned with the distributional properties of Markoff chains in two and three dimensions where the transition probability for the length of a step and its orientation relative to that of the previous step is specified.

The discrete two-dimensional chain of n steps is first discussed, and by the use of moving axes an equation relating characteristic functions of the end-point distribution for successive values of n is obtained. The corresponding differential equation for the limiting chain with continuous first derivatives is given and asymptotic solutions for long chains are found.

The three-dimensional chain is similarly treated in terms of moving axes, and the limiting continuous chain is again discussed. Finally the same methods are applied to the discrete chain of equal steps to obtain the asymptotic form of the end-point distribution for long chains.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1952

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES TO LITERATURE

Aitken, A. C., 1948. Determinants and Matrices, Oliver & Boyd.Google Scholar
Bartlett, M. S., 1949. “Some Evolutionary Stochastic Processes”, Journ. Roy. Stat. Soc, B, xi, 211229.Google Scholar
Eyring, H., 1932. “The Resultant Electric Moment of Complex Molecules”, Phys. Rev., xxxix, 746748.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goudsmit, S., and Saunderson, J. L., 1940. “Multiple Scattering of Electrons”, Phys. Rev., LVII, 2429.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kac, M., 1949. “On Distributions of Certain Wiener Functionals”, Trans. American Math. Soc, LXV, 113.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McLachlan, N. W., 1947. Theory and Application of Mathieu Functions, Oxford.Google Scholar
Moran, P. A. P., 1948. “The Statistical Distribution of the Length of a Rubber Molecule”, Proc. Gamb. Phil. Soc, XLIV, 342344.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moyal, J. E., 1950. “The Momentum and Sign of Fast Cosmic Ray Particles”, Phil. Mag., XLI, 10681077.Google Scholar
Perrin, F., 1928. “Étude Mathématique du Mouvement Brownien de Rotation”, Ann. Sci. Ec. Norm. Sup., XLV, 151.Google Scholar
Rayleigh, Lord, 1919. “On the Problem of Random Vibrations and of Random Flights in One, Two and Three Dimensions”, Phil. Mag., XXXVII, 321347.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rossi, B., and Greisen, K., 1941. “Cosmic Ray Theory”, Rev. Mod. Phys., XIII, 240309.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Treloar, L. R. G., 1949. The Physics of Rubber Elasticity, Oxford.Google Scholar