Sterile versus prolific individuals pertaining to linear-fractional Bienaym{\'e}-Galton-Watson trees

Abstract

In a Bienaym\'{e}-Galton-Watson process for which there is a positiveprobability for individuals of having no offspring, there is a subtlebalance and dependence between the sterile nodes (the dead nodes or leaves)and the prolific ones (the productive nodes) both at and up to the currentgeneration. We explore the many facets of this problem, especially in thecontext of an exactly solvable linear-fractional branching mechanism at allgeneration. Eased asymptotic issues are investigated. Relation of thisspecial branching process to skip-free to the left and simple random walks'excursions is then investigated. Mutual statistical information on theirshapes can be learnt from this association.