Probability Distribution Function for the Euclidean Distance Between Two Telegraph Processes

Abstract

Consider two independent Goldstein-Kac telegraph processes $X_1(t)$ and $X_2(t)$ on the real line $\Bbb R$. The processes $X_k(t), \; k=1,2,$ are performed by stochastic motions at finite constant velocities $c_1>0, \; c_2>0,$ that start at the initial time instant $t=0$ from the origin of the real line $\Bbb R$ and are controlled by two independent homogeneous Poisson processes of rates $\lambda_1>0, \; \lambda_2>0$, respectively. Closed-form expression for the probability distribution function of the Euclidean distance $$\rho(t) = |X_1(t) - X_2(t) |, \qquad t>0,$$ between these processes at arbitrary time instant $t>0$, is obtained. Some numerical results are presented.