Limit theorems for critical branching processes in a finite state space Markovian environment

Abstract: Let $(Z_n){n\geq 0}$ be a critical branching process in a random environment defined by a Markov chain $(X_n){n\geq 0}$ with values in a finite state space $\mathbb X$. Let $ S_n = \sum_{k=1}^n \ln f_{X_k}'(1)$ be the Markov walk associated to $(X_n)_{n\geq 0}$, where $f_i$ is the offspring generating function when the environment is $i \in \mathbb X$. Conditioned on the event ${ Z_n>0}$, we show the non degeneracy of limit law of the normalized number of particles ${Z_n}/{e^{S_n}}$ and determine the limit of the law of $\frac{S_n}{\sqrt{n}} $ jointly with $X_n$. Based on these results we establish a Yaglom-type theorem which specifies the limit of the joint law of $ \log Z_n$ and $X_n$ given $Z_n>0$.