The Critical Beta-splitting Random Tree

David Aldous , U.C. Berkeley and University of Washington
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SMI 305
In the critical beta-splitting model of a random \$n\$-leaf rooted tree, clades (subtrees) are recursively split into sub-clades, and a clade of \$m\$ leaves is split into sub-clades containing  \$i\$ and \$m-i\$ leaves with probabilities \$\propto 1/(i(m-i))\$.  This model turns out to have interesting properties: a wide range of results and open problems can be found in two preprints at https://arxiv.org/abs/2302.05066 and https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.02529.
In brief:
There is a canonical embedding into a continuous-time model (CTCS(n)).
 There is an inductive construction of CTCS(n) as \$n\$ increases, analogous to the stick-breaking constructions of the uniform random tree and its limit continuum random tree.
 We study the heights of leaves and the limit {\em fringe distribution} relative to a random leaf. 
There is a scaling limit, a process of fragmentation of the unit interval.
 In addition to familiar probabilistic methods, there are analytic methods (developed by co-author Boris Pittel) based on explicit recurrences which often give more precise results.  So this model provides an interesting concrete setting in which to compare and contrast these methods.
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