Selected Works of C.C. Heyde (Selected Works in Probability and Statistics)

In 1945, very early in the history of the development of a rigorous analytical theory of probability, Feller (1945) wrote a paper called “The fundamental limit theorems in probability” in which he set out what he considered to be “the two most important limit theorems in the modern theory of probability: the central limit theorem and the recently discovered … ‘Kolmogoroff’s cel­ ebrated law of the iterated logarithm’ ”. A little later in the article he added to these, via a charming description, the “little brother (of the central limit theo­ rem), the weak law of large numbers”, and also the strong law of large num­ bers, which he considers as a close relative of the law of the iterated logarithm. Feller might well have added to these also the beautiful and highly applicable results of renewal theory, which at the time he himself together with eminent colleagues were vigorously producing. Feller’s introductory remarks include the visionary: “The history of probability shows that our problems must be treated in their greatest generality: only in this way can we hope to discover the most natural tools and to open channels for new progress. This remark leads naturally to that characteristic of our theory which makes it attractive beyond its importance for various applications: a combination of an amazing generality with algebraic precision.

This volume is dedicated to the memory of the late Professor C.C. (Chris) Heyde (1939-2008), distinguished statistician, mathematician and scientist. Chris worked at a time when many of the foundational building blocks of probability and statistics were being put in place by a phalanx of eminent scientists around the world. He contributed significantly to this effort and took his place deservedly among the top-most rank of researchers. Throughout his career, Chris maintained also a keen interest in applications of probability and statistics, and in the history of the subject. The magnitude of his impact on his chosen area of research, both in Australia and internationally, was well recognised by the abundance of honours he received within and without the profession. The book is comprised of a number of Chris’s papers covering each one of four major topics to which he contributed. These papers are reproduced herein. The topics, and the papers in them, were selected by four of Chris’s friends and collaborators: Ishwar Basawa, Peter Hall, Ross Maller (overall Editor of the volume) and Eugene Seneta. Each topic is provided with an overview by the selecting editor. The topics cover a range of areas to which Chris made especially important contributions: Inference in Stochastic Processes, Rates of Convergence in the Central Limit Theorem, the Law of the Iterated Logarithm, and Branching Processes and Population Genetics. The Editor and the other contributors to the volume include well known researchers in probability and statistics. The collection begins with an “author’s pick” of a number of his papers which Chris considered most interesting and significant, chosen by him shortly before his death. A biography of Chris by his close friend and collaborator, Joe Gani, is also included. An introduction by the Editor and a comprehensive bibliography of Chris’s publications complete the volume. The book will be of especial interest to researchers in probabilityand statistics, and in the history of these subjects.