On Decomposition of the Last Passage Time of Diffusions

Abstract

For a regular transient diffusion, we provide a decomposition of its last passage time to a certain state $\alpha$. This is accomplished by transforming the original diffusion into two diffusions using the occupation time of the area above and below $\alpha$. Based on these two processes, both having a reflecting boundary at $\alpha$, we derive the decomposition formula of the Laplace transform of the last passage time explicitly in a simple form in terms of Green functions. This equation also leads to the Green function's decomposition formula. We demonstrate an application of these formulas to a diffusion with two-valued parameters.