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For every finite measure $\mu$ on the predictable sigma-algebra, bounded simple predictable processes are dense in $L^2(\mu )$. Include a bounded ${\mathcal{F}}_0$-measurable value supported at time zero when $\mu$ may charge that slice. Indicators of the generating rectangles and the Pi-lambda theorem prove density. This gives the completion step in the Itô isometry construction.

Measurability is the property that inverse images of measurable target sets are measurable in the source space. For a stochastic process, joint measurability in time and sample is a different condition from the separate adaptedness condition at each fixed time. The predictable sigma-algebra and progressive measurability encode particular joint measurability requirements.

Put $D=\{(\omega ,t):\omega \ge t\}$ and let $\mathcal{C}$ denote the proposed family of sets. This is a sigma-algebra: complements replace $T$ and $A$ by their complements, and countable unions replace them by their unions. For a generating predictable rectangle $B\times (s,u]$, part (a) says either $B\subseteq (0,s)$ or $B^c\subseteq (0,s)$. In the first case its trace on $D$ is empty; in the second it is exactly $D\cap (\Omega \times (s,u])$. Its trace on $D^c$ is always product-Borel. Hence $\mathcal{P}\subseteq \mathcal{C}$.

For the reverse inclusion, $X$ is left-continuous and adapted, so $D=\{X=1\}$ belongs to the predictable sigma-algebra. Every deterministic Borel set in time also belongs to that sigma-algebra, hence $D\cap (\Omega \times T)$ is predictable. For a product rectangle $E\times T$,Each term is predictable because $E\cap (0,s)\in {\mathcal{F}}_s$. Every pair with $\omega <t$ lies in such a term by choosing $\omega <s<t$. The class of product-Borel sets $A$ for which $A\cap D^c$ is predictable is a sigma-algebra containing the product rectangles, so it contains $\mathcal{F}\otimes \mathcal{F}$. ThusThis survival-observation predictable sigma-algebra expresses a sharp distinction: before and at the lifetime the only observable coordinate is time, whereas strictly after it the lifetime is known.

Write the predictable sigma-algebra on positive times asIt is equivalently the smallest sigma-algebra making all left-continuous adapted processes measurable. Indeed, the indicator of each generating rectangle is left-continuous and adapted, and approximating any left-continuous adapted process by its values at the preceding points of deterministic partitions gives the reverse inclusion. Previsibility records information available immediately before observation. If time zero is included, add $B\times \{0\}$ with $B\in {\mathcal{F}}_0$. The displayed description in part (b) uses positive times, as indicated by its product space.

For a simple predictable process, define its stochastic integral byCommon refinement of the deterministic partitions makes this definition independent of the representation. Each summand is a martingale increment multiplied by information already available at its left endpoint, so the resulting process is a continuous square-integrable martingale starting at zero. Its terminal value is the same sum with $t$ replaced by $t_n$.

Write ${\Delta }_{k}M=M_{t_{k+1}}-M_{t_k}$. If $j<k$, then $Z_{t_j}{\Delta }_{j}M{Z}_{t_k}$ is ${\mathcal{F}}_{t_k}$-measurable. By the conditional expectation identity for increments of a martingale,The conditional bracket isometry for stopped martingale increments givesFor completeness, this identity follows by applying the optional stopping theorem to $M$ and $M^2-[M]$ and expanding the square. The latter process is a true uniformly integrable martingale here: the Doob L2 maximal inequality bounds $\mathbb{E}{\sup }_t|M_t{|}^2$, stopped square identities and Fatou's lemma give $\mathbb{E}[M{]}_{\infty }<\infty$, and its absolute supremum is bounded by ${\sup }_t|M_t{|}^2+[M{]}_{\infty }$. Consequently all the stopped identities pass to the limit.

Multiplying the conditional identity by $Z_{t_k}^2$, taking expectations, and using the vanished cross terms proves the Itô isometry:

To extend the stochastic integral, use the finite quadratic-variation measure ${\nu }_M(C)=\mathbb{E}\int 1_{C}d[M]$ on the predictable sigma-algebra. The density of simple predictable processes for finite measures gives approximations to every $H\in L^2({\nu }_M)$. The Itô isometry makes the corresponding terminal integrals Cauchy in $L^2$, and the Doob L2 maximal inequality makes the whole processes Cauchy in expected squared supremum. Their limit defines a continuous martingale, and the isometry persists. For a locally bounded predictable process, choose increasing stopping times tending to infinity on which it is bounded, also restrict the time horizon, and perform this construction after stopping. The isometry shows that the stopped definitions agree on overlaps, so they patch into a uniquely defined continuous local martingale $H\cdot M$.

A simple predictable process can be writtenwhere each ${\xi }_j$ is bounded and ${\mathcal{F}}_{t_j}$-measurable. Define its integral to start at zero:Refining the partition leaves this sum unchanged. Every summand is a martingale, by conditioning its future increment on the information at $t_j$. Bounded coefficients and the $L^2$ bound on $M$ make the integral an L2-bounded continuous martingale. Its terminal value is the same sum with $M_{\infty }$ substituted at any infinite endpoint; $L^2$ martingale convergence supplies this limit.

We need the conditional square identity, rather than assuming independent increments. The Doob L2 maximal inequality gives $\mathbb{E}{\sup }_t|M_t{|}^2<\infty$. Localize the square identity for $M^2-[M]$ at level and bracket stopping times. The stopped identity and this maximal bound give $\mathbb{E}[M{]}_{\infty }<\infty$ by monotone convergence. Nowis integrable, so localization passes to conditional expectations and $M^2-[M]$ is a uniformly integrable martingale. Expanding a squared increment and using $\mathbb{E}(M_t\mid {\mathcal{F}}_s)=M_s$ provesThe infinite endpoint follows from $L^2$ convergence and integrability of the bracket. The initial value $M_0$ need not be zero: the integral itself is zero-starting.

In the square of the terminal integral, all cross terms vanish. For $j<k$, the $j$th increment and both coefficients in its cross term are measurable at $t_k$, whereas the conditional mean of the $k$th increment there is zero. For the diagonal terms, the preceding conditional identity can be multiplied by the bounded ${\xi }_j^2$. ThereforeThis proves the Itô isometry for these simple integrands. Ordered stopping-time intervals also work, replacing the conditional identity by optional stopping theorem, but deterministic intervals suffice for the approximation requested here.

For that approximation, put $\mu (A)=\mathbb{E}{\int }_0^1{1}_A(\omega ,s)ds$ on the predictable sigma-algebra. This is a finite measure. That sigma-algebra is generated, apart from the zero-time slice of measure zero, by rectangles $A\times (s,t]$ with $A\in {\mathcal{F}}_s$. The indicator of every such rectangle is a bounded simple predictable process.

Here is a density proof. Let $V$ be the closed linear span of these indicators in $L^2(\mu )$, and let $\mathcal{D}$ contain the predictable sets whose indicators belong to $V$. The whole space belongs to $\mathcal{D}$; complements stay in $\mathcal{D}$; and disjoint countable unions do also, because their finite partial indicator sums converge in $L^2$ under the finite measure. Thus $\mathcal{D}$ is a Dynkin system containing the generating rectangle pi-system. The Pi-lambda theorem makes it the entire predictable sigma-algebra. Bounded predictable simple functions therefore belong to $V$. Truncating any $L^2(\mu )$ function and then approximating its truncated range by finitely many levels shows that every such function belongs to $V$. A finite sum of rectangle indicators can be rewritten on one common deterministic time partition, with the coefficient on each interval measurable at its left endpoint; it is exactly an allowed simple process.

Consequently choose $H^n$ of this form with $\Vert H^n-H{\Vert }_{L^2(\mu )}<1/n$. This provesIt is density of simple predictable processes for finite measures, with a proof of the actual approximation step.

Finally apply the preceding isometry to $M_t=B_{t\wedge 1}$, whose bracket is $t\wedge 1$. The elementary integrals $I_n={\int }_0^1{H}_s^{n}d{B}_s$ satisfyDefine the Itô integral as the $L^2$ limit of these elementary integrals. The same identity shows independence of the approximating sequence, linearity, mean zero, and $\mathbb{E}({\int }_0^1{H}_{s}d{B}_s{)}^2=\mathbb{E}{\int }_0^1{H}_s^{2}ds$. Applying the Doob inequality to the difference processes also gives uniform-in-time $L^2$ convergence on $[0,1]$, with a continuous martingale version of the integral.

Use the predictable sigma-algebra generated by $A\times \{0\}$, $A\in {\mathcal{F}}_0$, and $A\times (s,t]$, $A\in {\mathcal{F}}_s$. A previsible process is a measurable function for this sigma-algebra. Set $J_t=1_{\{S<t\le T\}}$, with $J_0=0$. The events $\{S<t\}$ and $\{T<t\}$ are in ${\mathcal{F}}_t$, because they are countable unions of events $\{S\le q\}$ and $\{T\le q\}$ for rational $q<t$. Thus $J$ is an adapted process. Each path is left-continuous, including at the two endpoints, and is zero if $S=T$.

For a direct measurability argument, letEach summand is measurable for the predictable sigma-algebra, since its coefficient is ${\mathcal{F}}_{k{2}^{-n}}$-measurable. At every $t>0$ the sampling time approaches $t$ strictly from below, so left-continuity gives $J_t^{(n)}\to J_t$. ThereforeThe original PDF has a right-closed interval. The open right endpoint in the converted TeX is a transcription error; replacing $(S,T]$ by $(S,T)$ is not valid for arbitrary stopping times.

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.

For fixed $u>0$, define the left-limit sigma-algebra by ${\mathcal{F}}_{u-}=\sigma ({\bigcup }_{s<u}{\mathcal{F}}_s)$. The section at $u$ of a generating rectangle $A\times (s,t]$ of the predictable sigma-algebra is $A$ when $s<u\le t$, and empty otherwise. In the first case $A\in {\mathcal{F}}_s\subseteq {\mathcal{F}}_{u-}$. Sections of the time-zero generators are empty for $u>0$.

The collection of subsets of sample-time space whose section at $u$ belongs to ${\mathcal{F}}_{u-}$ is a sigma-algebra: sections commute with complements and countable unions. It therefore contains all of $\mathcal{P}$. Apply this to $\{(\omega ,t):H_t(\omega )\in E\}$ for every Borel set $E$. Thus predictable sections at deterministic times satisfyAt $u=0$ the same argument gives ${\mathcal{F}}_0$-measurability, using the convention ${\mathcal{F}}_{0-}={\mathcal{F}}_0$. The PDF asks for information strictly before $u$; the TeX aid drops the minus sign.

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.

Fix a L2-bounded continuous martingale $M$. Its quadratic-variation measure on the predictable sigma-algebra isIt is finite, since ${\nu }_M(\Omega \times [0,\infty ))=\mathbb{E}[M{]}_{\infty }=\mathbb{E}{M}_{\infty }^2-\mathbb{E}{M}_0^2$. The source Hilbert space is $L^2(M)=L^2(\Omega \times [0,\infty ),\mathcal{P},{\nu }_M)$: predictable processes with finite $\mathbb{E}\int H^{2}d[M]$, identified when equal ${\nu }_M$-almost everywhere. Its norm is $\Vert H{\Vert }_{L^2(M)}^2=\mathbb{E}\int H^{2}d[M]$.

The target ${\mathcal{M}}_0^2$ consists of L2-bounded continuous martingales starting at zero, identified up to indistinguishability of stochastic processes, with norm $\Vert K{\Vert }_{{\mathcal{M}}_0^2}=\Vert K_{\infty }{\Vert }_2$. It is a Hilbert space: terminal values belong to the closed linear subspace of $L^2({\mathcal{F}}_{\infty })$ whose conditional expectation given ${\mathcal{F}}_0$ is zero and whose associated martingales have continuous versions. Closure of that continuous-version subspace follows from the Doob L2 maximal inequality and an almost surely uniformly convergent subsequence.

The Itô isometry says that integration extends uniquely from simple predictable processes to a linear isometry $L^2(M)⟶{\mathcal{M}}_0^2$, withFor every finite $t$, the same identity holds with the integral restricted to $[0,t]$ and the left side $\mathbb{E}|(H\cdot M{)}_t{|}^2$. No claim of surjectivity onto all of ${\mathcal{M}}_0^2$ is needed: that would require an additional Martingale representation theorem.

Put $S=H\cdot M$ and $A_t={\int }_0^t{H}_s^{2}d[M{]}_s$. The candidate $A$ is continuous, adapted, nondecreasing, starts at zero and has integrable terminal value. We prove $S^2-A$ is a martingale, rather than assuming the desired quadratic variation of a stochastic integral.

The assumed boundedness of $M$ also makes $M^2-[M]$ a true martingale on every finite horizon. Indeed, apply its local martingale identity at a localizing sequence; bounded stopped squares and the Fatou lemma show that $[M{]}_t$ is integrable. The stopped expressions are then dominated by ${\sup }_s|M_s{|}^2+[M{]}_t$, so the dominated convergence theorem gives the unrestricted conditional identity on that horizon.

First let $H$ be a bounded simple predictable process. On each interval with coefficient $h$, an increment of $S$ is $h(M_t-M_a)$. The defining quadratic variation identity for $M$, together with the martingale property of $M$, makesa martingale for $t\ge a$. Expanding $S_t^2-S_a^2$ gives a term $2S_{a}h(M_t-M_a)$ and the square term above; their conditional expectations yield the desired identity on that interval. Integrability follows because the variables are square-integrable; concatenating the finitely many intervals gives $S^2-A$ a martingale.

For general bounded predictable $H$, choose bounded simple predictable processes $H^n\to H$ in $L^2(M)$, which is possible since they generate the predictable sigma-algebra. Set $S^n=H^n\cdot M$ and $A_t^n={\int }_0^t(H_s^n{)}^{2}d[M{]}_s$. The Itô isometry and Doob L2 maximal inequality imply $S_t^n\to S_t$ in $L^2$; the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality gives $(S_t^n{)}^2\to S_t^2$ in $L^1$ andPass the conditional expectation identity for $(S^n{)}^2-A^n$ to the $L^1$ limit. Thus $S^2-A$ is a martingale. Uniqueness in the defining quadratic variation property now gives

Use the standard convention that the finite-variation process $X$ has càdlàg paths and that the stochastic integral starts from zero. Write $V(X)$ for its total-variation process. The necessary admissibility condition is ${\int }_{(0,t]}|H_s|d{V}_s(X)<\infty$ almost surely for each finite $t$; it holds, for example, for locally bounded $H$. Define the pathwise Lebesgue-Stieltjes integralAn atom at $s>0$ contributes $H_s\Delta X_s$, so this convention also fixes the treatment of jumps.

Fix $t$. For a generator $H_s=1_A{1}_{(a,b]}(s)$ of the predictable sigma-algebra, with $A\in {\mathcal{F}}_a$, the Lebesgue-Stieltjes integral isIt vanishes when $t\le a$ and is ${\mathcal{F}}_t$-measurable otherwise. The total-variation process is adapted: for a càdlàg path its value at $t$ is the supremum over a countable collection of partitions of an interval using rational interior points and endpoint $t$. Thus the positive and negative Lebesgue-Stieltjes measures $d{X}^{\pm }=(dV(X)\pm dX)/2$ have ${\mathcal{F}}_t$-measurable masses on the generator intervals.

The Monotone class theorem, applied separately to these positive random measures on $[0,t]$, extends this measurability from the generators of the predictable sigma-algebra to all nonnegative predictable processes. Truncation and positive/negative decomposition then cover every admissible $H$. Consequently $H\cdot X$ is adapted.

The integrability condition is essential. Taken literally, an arbitrary previsible process cannot always be integrated against a finite-variation process: with $X_t=t$ and deterministic $H_s=s^{-1}$ for $s>0$, $H_0=0$, the proposed value at every $t>0$ diverges. The usual càdlàg convention is also what identifies $dX$ by $dX((a,b])=X_b-X_a$.

Let $\mathcal{P}$ be the predictable sigma-algebra on $\Omega \times [0,\infty )$, generated by $A\times \{0\}$ with $A\in {\mathcal{F}}_0$ and $A\times (s,u]$ with $A\in {\mathcal{F}}_s$. A stochastic process $H$ is previsible precisely when $(\omega ,t)\mapsto H_t(\omega )$ is $\mathcal{P}$-measurable.

Every left-continuous adapted process is previsible. Indeed, on intervals $(k{2}^{-n},(k+1)2^{-n}]$, put $H_t^{(n)}=H_{k{2}^{-n}}$, and put $H_0^{(n)}=H_0$. Each approximation is a predictable process, since its coefficient is ${\mathcal{F}}_{k{2}^{-n}}$-measurable; left continuity gives $H_t^{(n)}\to H_t$ for every $t$, so measurability passes to the limit.

An adapted càdlàg process need not be previsible. For a concrete example, let $\xi$ take values $0,1$ with equal probabilities, let ${\mathcal{F}}_t$ be trivial for $t<1$ and ${\mathcal{F}}_t=\sigma (\xi )$ for $t\ge 1$, and set $H_t=\xi 1_{[1,\infty )}(t)$. This is an adapted càdlàg process, but $H_1=\xi$ is not ${\mathcal{F}}_{1-}$-measurable, where ${\mathcal{F}}_{1-}=\sigma ({\bigcup }_{s<1}{\mathcal{F}}_s)$. Sections at time $1$ of the generators of $\mathcal{P}$ all belong to ${\mathcal{F}}_{1-}$, so every predictable process has an ${\mathcal{F}}_{1-}$-measurable value there; this proves the counterexample directly.

Indicators of the rectanglestogether with $A\times \{0\}$ generate the predictable sigma-algebra. Their finite linear span is precisely the set of simple processes. The monotone-class theorem therefore makes this span dense among bounded predictable functions in measure. Since $\nu$ is finite, truncation followed by bounded approximation proves density in $L^2(\mathcal{P},\nu )$.

The predictable sigma-algebra $\mathcal{P}$ on $\Omega \times [0,\infty )$ is generated by the sets $A\times \{0\}$ with $A\in {\mathcal{F}}_0$ and $A\times (s,t]$ with $0\le s<t$ and $A\in {\mathcal{F}}_s$. A process is previsible precisely when it is $\mathcal{P}$-measurable.