On the existence of local times: A geometric study (Q805056)

The paper presents a deep study relating the geometry of the graph of a real function to the existence of local times for the function. The results obtained are applied to Gaussian processes. Two issues raised in [\textit{D. Geman} and \textit{J.Horowitz}, Ann. Probab. 8, 1-67 (1980; Zbl 0499.60081)] are addressed: (a) What is the exact role that the Jarnik condition plays in the existence of local times? (b) If a function has local times, is the same true after a perturbation of it? In particular, it is shown that there exist Jarnik functions without local times and that (from authors' abstract) ``with probability 1 the sample functions of a nondifferentiable stationary Gaussian process with local times will be Jarnik functions.'' Finally, a discontinuous stationary Gaussian process with no local times is exhibited.