Birth and death processes and Markov chains

This monograph offers a comprehensive survey on the research on birth death processes and Markov chains with conitnuous time parameters. Never before has a systematic approach to the subject been made. Many new results, methods and information come to light and are presented for the first time in a compact, accessible volume. For the English edition manynew results have been added, the book was brought up-to-date and two new chapters were written specifically for this edition.