During the last fifty years, Gopinath Kallianpur has made extensive and significant contributions to diverse areas of probability and statistics, including stochastic finance, Fisher consistent estimation, non-linear prediction and filtering problems, zero-one laws for Gaussian processes and reproducing kernel Hilbert space theory, and stochastic differential equations in infinite dimensions. To honor Kallianpur's pioneering work and scholarly achievements, a number of leading experts have written research articles highlighting progress and new directions of research in these and related areas. This commemorative volume, dedicated to Kallianpur on the occasion of his seventy-fifth birthday, will pay tribute to his multi-faceted achievements and to the deep insight and inspiration he has so graciously offered his students and colleagues throughout his career. Contributors to the volume: S. Aida, N. Asai, K. B. Athreya, R. N. Bhattacharya, A. Budhiraja, P. S. Chakraborty, P. Del Moral, R. Elliott, L. Gawarecki, D. Goswami, Y. Hu, J. Jacod, G. W. Johnson, L. Johnson, T. Koski, N. V. Krylov, I. Kubo, H.-H. Kuo, T. G. Kurtz, H. J. Kushner, V. Mandrekar, B. Margolius, R. Mikulevicius, I. Mitoma, H. Nagai, Y. Ogura, K. R. Parthasarathy, V. Perez-Abreu, E. Platen, B. V. Rao, B. Rozovskii, I. Shigekawa, K. B. Sinha, P. Sundar, M. Tomisaki, M. Tsuchiya, C. Tudor, W. A. Woycynski, J. Xiong

This monograph presents a modern treatment of (1) stochastic differential equations and (2) diffusion and jump-diffusion processes. The simultaneous treatment of diffusion processes and jump processes in this book is unique: Each chapter starts from continuous processes and then proceeds to processes with jumps.In the first part of the book, it is shown that solutions of stochastic differential equations define stochastic flows of diffeomorphisms. Then, the relation between stochastic flows and heat equations is discussed. The latter part investigates fundamental solutions of these heat equations (heat kernels) through the study of the Malliavin calculus. The author obtains smooth densities for transition functions of various types of diffusions and jump-diffusions and shows that these density functions are fundamental solutions for various types of heat equations and backward heat equations. Thus, in this book fundamental solutions for heat equations and backward heat equations are constructed independently of the theory of partial differential equations.Researchers and graduate student in probability theory will find this book very useful.

During the last fifty years, Gopinath Kallianpur has made extensive and significant contributions to diverse areas of probability and statistics, including stochastic finance, Fisher consistent estimation, non-linear prediction and filtering problems, zero-one laws for Gaussian processes and reproducing kernel Hilbert space theory, and stochastic differential equations in infinite dimensions. To honor Kallianpur's pioneering work and scholarly achievements, a number of leading experts have written research articles highlighting progress and new directions of research in these and related areas. This commemorative volume, dedicated to Kallianpur on the occasion of his seventy-fifth birthday, will pay tribute to his multi-faceted achievements and to the deep insight and inspiration he has so graciously offered his students and colleagues throughout his career. Contributors to the volume: S. Aida, N. Asai, K. B. Athreya, R. N. Bhattacharya, A. Budhiraja, P. S. Chakraborty, P. Del Moral, R. Elliott, L. Gawarecki, D. Goswami, Y. Hu, J. Jacod, G. W. Johnson, L. Johnson, T. Koski, N. V. Krylov, I. Kubo, H.-H. Kuo, T. G. Kurtz, H. J. Kushner, V. Mandrekar, B. Margolius, R. Mikulevicius, I. Mitoma, H. Nagai, Y. Ogura, K. R. Parthasarathy, V. Perez-Abreu, E. Platen, B. V. Rao, B. Rozovskii, I. Shigekawa, K. B. Sinha, P. Sundar, M. Tomisaki, M. Tsuchiya, C. Tudor, W. A. Woycynski, J. Xiong

Professor Kiyosi Ito is well known as the creator of the modern theory of stochastic analysis. Although Ito first proposed his theory, now known as Ito's stochastic analysis or Ito's stochastic calculus, about fifty years ago, its value in both pure and applied mathematics is becoming greater and greater. For almost all modern theories at the forefront of probability and related fields, Ito's analysis is indispensable as an essential instrument, and it will remain so in the future. For example, a basic formula, called the Ito formula, is well known and widely used in fields as diverse as physics and economics.
This volume contains 27 papers written by world-renowned probability theorists. Their subjects vary widely and they present new results and ideas in the fields where stochastic analysis plays an important role. Also included are several expository articles by well-known experts surveying recent developments. Not only mathematicians but also physicists, biologists, economists and researchers in other fields who are interested in the effectiveness of stochastic theory will find valuable suggestions for their research. In addition, students who are beginning their study and research in stochastic analysis and related fields will find instructive and useful guidance here.
This volume is dedicated to Professor Ito on the occasion of his eightieth birthday as a token of deep appreciation for his great achievements and contributions. An introduction to and commentary on the scientific works of Professor Ito are also included.

Kunita, H.: Stochastic differential equations and stochastic flows of diffeomorphisms.-Elworthy, D.: Geometric aspects of diffusions on manifolds.-Ancona, A.: Theorie du potential sur les graphs et les varieties.-Emery, M.: Continuous martingales in differentiable manifolds.

Stochastic analysis and stochastic differential equations are rapidly developing fields in probability theory and its applications. This book provides a systematic treatment of stochastic differential equations and stochastic flow of diffeomorphisms and describes the properties of stochastic flows. Professor Kunita's approach regards the stochastic differential equation as a dynamical system driven by a random vector field, including K. Itô's classical theory. Beginning with a discussion of Markov processes, martingales and Brownian motion, Kunita reviews Itô's stochastic analysis. He places emphasis on establishing that the solution defines a flow of diffeomorphisms. This flow property is basic in the modern and comprehensive analysis of the solution and will be applied to solve the first and second order stochastic partial differential equations. This book will be valued by graduate students and researchers in probability. It can also be used as a textbook for advanced probability courses.