= Solution
Let $S_0=0$ and let each increment of the <simple symmetric random walk> be uniformly chosen from $\{\pm e_1,\pm e_2,\pm e_3\}$. A return requires an even number of steps. In $2n$ steps returning to zero, let $a,b,c$ be the respective numbers of positive steps in the three directions; there must also be $a,b,c$ negative steps, so $a+b+c=n$. Counting step sequences gives
$$
u_{2n}:=\mathbb P_0(S_{2n}=0)=\frac{(2n)!}{6^{2n}}\sum_{a+b+c=n}\frac1{a!^2b!^2c!^2}
=\frac{\binom{2n}{n}}{4^n}\sum_{a+b+c=n}\left(\frac{n!}{3^na!b!c!}\right)^2.
$$
The terms $p_{abc}=n!/(3^na!b!c!)$ form a <multinomial distribution>, so $\sum p_{abc}^2\leq(\max p_{abc})\sum p_{abc}=\max p_{abc}$. The permitted combinatorial inequalities give $\binom{2n}{n}/4^n\leq C_1n^{-1/2}$ and $\max_{a+b+c=n}p_{abc}\leq C_2/n$ for $n\geq1$. The second bound also follows by noting that the largest <multinomial coefficient> occurs when $a,b,c$ differ by at most one and then applying <Stirling formula>. Thus
$$
\boxed{u_{2n}\leq Cn^{-3/2},\qquad u_{2n+1}=0,\qquad \sum_{j\geq0}\mathbb P_0(S_j=0)<\infty}.
$$
To prove the origin is a <transient state>, let $q$ be the <probability> of at least one return after time zero. The <Strong Markov property> at successive returns gives $\mathbb P(N\geq k)=q^k$ for the number $N$ of later returns. Therefore $\mathbb E(N+1)=\sum_j u_j$ would be infinite if $q=1$. The bound forces $q<1$, proving that the origin is a <transient state>. Translation invariance gives the same conclusion at every lattice point. The coordinate walks need not be treated as independent; the counting via <multinomial coefficients> already incorporates their dependence.
Back to article page