On the Convergence in Distribution of Measurable Multifunctions Random Sets Normal Integrands, Stochastic Processes and Stochastic Infima

The concept of the distribution function of a closed-valued measurable multifunction is introduced and used to study the convergence in distribution of sequences of multifunctions and the epi-convergence in distribution of normal integrands and stochastic processes; in particular various compactness criteria are exhibited. The connections with the classical convergence theory for stochastic processes are analyzed and for purposes of illustration we apply the theory to sketch out a modified derivation of Donsker's Theorem Brownian motion as a limit of normalized random walks. We also suggest the potential application of the theory to the study of the convergence of stochastic infima.

[1]  Yu. V. Prokhorov Convergence of Random Processes and Limit Theorems in Probability Theory , 1956 .

[2]  R. Wijsman Convergence of sequences of convex sets, cones and functions. II , 1966 .

[3]  K. Parthasarathy,et al.  Probability measures on metric spaces , 1967 .

[4]  R. Rockafellar Integrals which are convex functionals. II , 1968 .

[5]  Iosif Ilitch Gikhman,et al.  Introduction to the theory of random processes , 1969 .

[6]  P. Billingsley,et al.  Convergence of Probability Measures , 1969 .

[7]  U. Mosco Convergence of convex sets and of solutions of variational inequalities , 1969 .

[8]  Peter Kall,et al.  Stochastic Linear Programming , 1975 .

[9]  G. Matheron Random Sets and Integral Geometry , 1976 .

[10]  Paul Olsen Multistage Stochastic Programming with Recourse: The Equivalent Deterministic Problem , 1976 .

[11]  R. Rockafellar,et al.  Integral functionals, normal integrands and measurable selections , 1976 .

[12]  R. Wets,et al.  On the relations between two types of convergence for convex functions , 1977 .

[13]  R. Rockafellar,et al.  The Optimal Recourse Problem in Discrete Time: $L^1 $-Multipliers for Inequality Constraints , 1978 .

[14]  R. Wets,et al.  On the convergence of sequences of convex sets in finite dimensions , 1979 .

[15]  Hans-Joachim Langen,et al.  Convergence of Dynamic Programming Models , 1981, Math. Oper. Res..

[16]  Roger J.-B. Wets,et al.  On the convergence of closed-valued measurable multifunctions , 1981 .

[17]  R. Wets,et al.  Convergence of functions: equi-semicontinuity , 1983 .

[18]  Jean Serra,et al.  Image Analysis and Mathematical Morphology , 1983 .

[19]  H. Engl,et al.  On weak limits of probability distributions on polish spaces , 1983 .

[20]  R. T. Rockafellart,et al.  Deterministic and stochastic optimization problems of bolza type in discrete time , 1983 .

[21]  R. Wets A formula for the level sets of epi-limits and some applications , 1983 .

[22]  H. Attouch Variational convergence for functions and operators , 1984 .

[23]  Tommy Norberg,et al.  Convergence and Existence of Random Set Distributions , 1984 .

[24]  Roger J.-B. Wets,et al.  On the Convergence in Probability of Random Sets (Measurable Multifunctions) , 1986, Math. Oper. Res..