Branching and interacting particle interpretations of rare event probabilities

Abstract : This article focuses on branching particle interpretations of rare events. We connect importance sampling techniques with interacting particle algorithms, and multi-splitting branching models. These Monte Carlo methods are illustrated with a variety of examples arising in particle trapping analysis, as well as in ruin type estimation problems. We also provide a rather detailed presentation of the asymptotic theory of these particle algorithms, including exponential extinction probabilities, Lp-mean error bounds, central limit theorem, and fluctuation variance comparaisons.