Markov process representation of semigroups whose generators include negative rates

Abstract

Generators of Markov processes on a countable state space can be represented as finite or infinite matrices. One key property is that the off-diagonal entries corresponding to jump rates of the Markov process are non-negative. Here we present stochastic characterizations of the semigroup generated by a generator with possibly negative rates. This is done by considering a larger state space with one or more particles and antiparticles, with antiparticles being particles carrying a negative sign.