Almost sure convergence of continuous time branching processes

Abstract

We prove necessary and sufficient conditions for the transience of the non-zero states in a non-homogeneous, continuous time Markov branching process. The result is obtained by passing from results about the discrete time skeleton of the continuous time chain to the continuous time chain itself. An alternative proof of a result for continuous time Markov branching processes in random environments is then given, showing that earlier moment conditions were not necessary.