gammabranching

Gammabranching is a term used in probability theory and related fields to describe models that merge gamma-based timing with branching structures. In its common usage, gammabranching refers to continuous-time branching processes in which the times between reproduction events are governed by a gamma distribution, producing non-exponential inter-event intervals and non-Markovian dynamics. A related formulation fixes the number of offspring produced by each individual to be gamma-distributed rather than following a fixed renewal rule or a Poisson-like offspring distribution.

Mathematically, gammabranching can be described within Crump-Mode-Jagers type frameworks, where each individual lives for a stochastic duration and, during its lifetime, gives birth according to a gamma process; or as a discrete-process variant with gamma-distributed offspring counts. The gamma shape parameter and scale parameter control variability: larger shape (for a fixed mean) reduces timing variability, while the scale adjusts the overall birth rate.

Key properties include increased variability in inter-birth intervals and population sizes compared with Poisson-based models, and potential non-Markovian behavior. Extinction probabilities and growth rates depend on both the gamma parameters and the underlying branching mechanism.

Applications of gammabranching appear in contexts with bursty or irregular reproduction or transmission: modeling cell lineages and tumor growth with irregular division times, epidemiological outbreaks with bursty transmission, and network growth where new nodes appear in bursts. The concept relates to broader ideas in renewal processes, gamma distributions, and traditional branching process theory.

History and usage vary by context; gammabranching is not a single standardized framework, but a descriptive label for models that blend gamma-driven timing with branching dynamics.