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The optional stopping theorem for a right-continuous martingale $M$ on a filtered probability space satisfying the usual conditions for a filtration states that, for bounded stopping times $\sigma \le \tau$,For a submartingale the conditional equality becomes $\mathbb{E}[M_{\tau }\mid {\mathcal{F}}_{\sigma }]\ge M_{\sigma }$, and for a supermartingale it becomes the reverse inequality.

For a uniformly integrable martingale, boundedness of the stopping times can be removed, with the terminal limit used if a stopping time is infinite. A useful application is to a bounded stopped martingale $M_{t\wedge \tau }$ with $\tau <\infty$ almost surely: apply the bounded-time theorem first and then the bounded convergence theorem to obtain $\mathbb{E}{M}_{\tau }=\mathbb{E}{M}_0$. Finiteness of $\tau$ alone is not a sufficient hypothesis for an arbitrary martingale.

On a filtered probability space carrying a standard Brownian motion $W$ with independent increments relative to the filtration, a strictly positive security price follows geometric Brownian motion with constant drift $\mu$ and volatility $\sigma$ if it solves the stochastic differential equationHere $W_t-W_s$ is independent of ${\mathcal{F}}_s$ and has the normal distribution $N(0,t-s)$ for $s<t$. The solution isIndeed applying the Itô formula to this exponential gives the specified drift and volatility. Consequently the price is positive and continuous, andThus disjoint log-return increments are independent and stationary. The parameter $\mu$ is the instantaneous expected relative return under the physical probability measure, not the mean log-return. Under the pricing risk-neutral measure it becomes the risk-free rate for a non-dividend-paying stock.

Use the filtered probability space $([0,1),\mathcal{B}([0,1)),({\mathcal{F}}_n),\lambda )$, with its half-open dyadic intervals. Complete the initial definition by putting $X_0=\mu ([0,1))$. This is the same cell-average formula at level zero, where the only cell is $[0,1)$.

The function $X_n$ is ${\mathcal{F}}_n$-measurable and nonnegative. Its expectation isEvery parent cell is the disjoint union of its two half-open child cells. On $D_k^n$, the conditional expectation of $X_{n+1}$ is its cell average:Thus $\mathbb{E}[X_{n+1}\mid {\mathcal{F}}_n]=X_n$, including at $n=0$. This proves that $X$ is a nonnegative martingale, specifically the dyadic density martingale. The half-open endpoints are essential to the disjoint partition for an arbitrary measure, which may have atoms.

Work on a filtered probability space $(\Omega ,\mathcal{F},({\mathcal{F}}_n{)}_{n\ge 0},\mathbb{P})$. A submartingale is a real-valued stochastic process satisfying the following three conditions: $Y_n$ is ${\mathcal{F}}_n$-measurable, $\mathbb{E}|Y_n|<\infty$, andThus it is adapted, has integrable random variables at every time, and its conditional expected next value is at least its current value. Repeated conditioning gives $\mathbb{E}[Y_m\mid {\mathcal{F}}_n]\ge Y_n$ for every $m\ge n$. The inequality concerns conditional expectation; individual sample paths need not increase. If no filtration is specified, the definition can be applied to the natural filtration generated by the process.

Use a filtered probability space $(\Omega ,\mathcal{F},({\mathcal{F}}_t),\mathbb{P})$, and put ${\mathcal{F}}_{0-}={\mathcal{F}}_0$. The predictable sigma-algebra on $\Omega \times [0,\infty )$ isEquivalently it is generated by left-continuous adapted processes. A real-valued previsible process is a function $(\omega ,t)\mapsto H_t(\omega )$ that is measurable for $\mathcal{P}$ and the Borel sigma-algebra of $\mathbb{R}$.

A simple predictable process has the formwhere $h_{-1}$ is bounded and ${\mathcal{F}}_0$-measurable, and each $h_i$ is bounded and ${\mathcal{F}}_{t_i}$-measurable. Set $H=0$ after $t_n$; allowing a final infinite interval gives an equivalent dense class. The values may be restricted to finitely many values if desired, by approximating bounded measurable functions by simple functions. The initial-time term matters for arbitrary finite measures on $\mathcal{P}$: a measure can charge time zero, even though the stochastic integral against a continuous martingale does not.

A weak solution of a stochastic differential equation consists of a filtered probability space, an adapted continuous process $X$, and a Brownian motion $B$ relative to that filtration, with specified initial distribution, such that for every finite $t$ the coefficient integrals are finite andIn one dimension the integrability conditions are ${\int }_0^t\sigma (X_s{)}^{2}ds<\infty$ and ${\int }_0^t|b(X_s)|ds<\infty$. The noise integral is the Itô integral. A solution on a prescribed stochastic basis with prescribed $B$ is distinguished from this weak construction.

A strong solution of a stochastic differential equation uses the prescribed $B$ and initial variable, and is adapted to their augmented natural filtration; thus no additional randomness is needed. For deterministic $X_0=x$, each $X_t$ is determined by the driving Brownian motion through time $t$. Merely being adapted to a larger filtration is insufficient for this definition.

Uniqueness in law means that any two weak stochastic solutions with the same initial distribution have the same law of $X$ on continuous path space. Pathwise uniqueness means that two solutions on one stochastic basis, with the same $B$ and almost surely equal initial values, are indistinguishable stochastic processes. The latter compares paths under the same noise, rather than just comparing their probability distributions.

A continuous martingale is an adapted process with almost surely continuous paths, $\mathbb{E}|M_t|<\infty$ for every $t$, andA continuous local martingale is continuous and adapted and has a localizing sequence of stopping times $T_n\uparrow \infty$ almost surely such that every $M_t^{T_n}=M_{t\wedge T_n}$ is a true martingale. The initial value is normally integrable; the frequently used class ${\mathcal{M}}_{c,\mathrm{loc}}$ is normalized to start at zero.

The usual conditions for a filtration are completeness and right continuity. Completeness means that ${\mathcal{F}}_0$ contains every subset of each $\mathbb{P}$-null set in the ambient $\mathcal{F}$; right continuity means ${\mathcal{F}}_t={\bigcap }_{u>t}{\mathcal{F}}_u$. These conditions concern the filtered probability space, whereas continuity of a martingale concerns its sample paths.

Work on a filtered probability space with the usual conditions for a filtration. A continuous martingale belongs to the class of L2-bounded continuous martingales whenThis means a uniform bound over the entire time interval, not merely being square-integrable at each individual time. The L2 martingale convergence theorem gives a terminal variable $M_{\infty }$ and almost sure convergence and convergence in the Lebesgue space $L^2$; moreover $M_t=\mathbb{E}[M_{\infty }\mid {\mathcal{F}}_t]$ by conditional expectation.

The predictable sigma-algebra $\mathcal{P}$ on $\Omega \times [0,\infty )$ is the smallest sigma-algebra making every left-continuous adapted process measurable. Equivalently, it is generated bywhere the sample coordinate comes first. A previsible process is precisely a process measurable for this predictable sigma-algebra. Values at time zero matter for its definition, although they make no contribution to integration against a continuous quadratic variation starting at zero.

Specify an initial value or initial probability distribution. A strong solution of a stochastic differential equation uses a prescribed Brownian motion on a prescribed filtered probability space. It is continuous, adapted to the completed filtration generated by that Brownian motion and the initial value, and satisfiesalmost surely for every $t$, with ${\int }_0^t(|b(X_s)|+\sigma (X_s{)}^2)ds<\infty$ almost surely. The given initial variable is independent of future Brownian motion increments. Some courses allow a larger prescribed filtration in their definition of a strong solution of a stochastic differential equation; the Brownian-generated convention states explicitly what absence of extra randomness means.

A weak solution of a stochastic differential equation consists of a filtered probability space, a Brownian motion relative to its filtration, and a continuous adapted process $X$ satisfying the same integrability and integral equation. Here the space and noise are part of the unknown; the filtration may contain randomness beyond the initial variable and the driving path.

Pathwise uniqueness means that on any common filtered probability space, any two solutions with the same driving Brownian motion and the same initial value are indistinguishable. Uniqueness in law means that all weak solutions with the same initial probability distribution have the same law as path-valued random variables, even on different spaces. Pathwise uniqueness compares shared-noise paths; uniqueness in law compares path distributions. Neither uniqueness notion by itself asserts existence.

Let $X,Y$ be two continuous solutions on the same filtered probability space, driven by the same Brownian motion and with $X_0=Y_0$ almost surely. Write $D=X-Y$ and choose a common Lipschitz constant $L$ for $b,\sigma$. Introduce the stopping time ${\tau }_n=\inf \{t\ge 0:|X_t|+|Y_t|\ge n\}$. On $\{{\tau }_n=0\}$ the stopped difference is zero; before ${\tau }_n$, both coefficients and the difference are bounded.

The Itô formula and the zero expectation of the stopped square-integrable Itô integral yieldThe Gronwall inequality implies $\mathbb{E}{D}_{t\wedge {\tau }_n}^2=0$. Continuous solution paths are bounded on each compact time interval, so ${\tau }_n\uparrow \infty$ almost surely. Letting $n\to \infty$ proves $X_t=Y_t$ almost surely at each fixed time, and a countable dense set of times together with continuity gives indistinguishability of stochastic processes. Therefore the stochastic differential equation has pathwise uniqueness.