Diffusion approximation of controlled branching processes using limit theorems for random step processes

Abstract

A controlled branching process (CBP) is a modification of the standard Bienaym\'e-Galton-Watson process in which the number of progenitors in each generation is determined by a random mechanism. We consider a CBP starting from a random number of initial individuals. The main aim of this paper is to provide a Feller diffusion approximation for critical CBPs. A similar result by considering a fixed number of initial individuals by using operator semigroup convergence theorems has been previously proved in Sriram at al. (2007). An alternative proof is now provided making use of limit theorems for {random step processes}.