On the inverse first-passage-time problem for a Wiener process

Abstract

The inverse first-passage problem for a Wiener process $(W_t)_{t\ge0}$ seeks to determine a function $b{}:{}\mathbb{R}_+\to\mathbb{R}$ such that \[\tau=\inf\{t>0| W_t\ge b(t)\}\] has a given law. In this paper two methods for approximating the unknown function $b$ are presented. The errors of the two methods are studied. A set of examples illustrates the methods. Possible applications are enlighted.