Equilibrium distribution of a continuous-time Markov chain ($\pi P(t)=\pi$)

An Equilibrium distribution of a continuous-time Markov chain is a probability row vector $\pi$ invariant under its transition semigroup:It satisfies $\pi Q=0$ when the generator sums are defined. An invariant law is a property of the entire evolution, so formal generator equations must be interpreted with the process's nonexplosion and domain conditions.

For a finite irreducible chain, the equilibrium distribution is unique and every transition row converges to it. For a general finite chain, the limiting row from state $i$ is a mixture of the stationary distributions ${\pi }^C$ of its closed irreducible classes:The chain eventually enters one of these classes and then mixes within it. If every closed class is a single absorbing state, this reduces to absorption probabilities at those states. Merely having some absorbing states does not exclude other closed classes.

Holding times explain the link to an embedded jump chain. For a finite irreducible chain with strictly positive exit rates $q_i$ and jump-chain Stationary distribution $\alpha$, the time-stationary distribution isVisit frequency is multiplied by mean time $1/q_i$ per visit. In the countable setting, these time weights need a finite positive normalizer and a nonexplosive process before they define an equilibrium probability. For an alternating two-state jump chain, $\alpha =(1/2,1/2)$ and rates $a,b$ give $\pi =(b/(a+b),a/(a+b))$: slower holding rates increase time occupancy.