# Example of a non-Gaussian stochastic process?

Gold Member
Consider stochastic process ##X(t)## with properties

$$\langle X(t) \rangle = 0,$$

$$\langle X(t) X(t-\tau) \rangle = C_0e^{-|\tau|/\tau_c}.$$

For example, the position of a Brownian particle in harmonic potential can be described by ##X##. In that case, the probability distribution will be Gaussian, i.e.

$$\frac{dp}{dX} (X) = Ae^{-\frac{|X^2|}{2\sigma^2}}$$

with some ##A, \sigma##.

Do you know some example of a stochastic process ##X## with the above two properties (average value and correlation function) which however does not have Gaussian probability distribution?

chiro
Hey Jano L.

If the solution to this process implies a unique form for the Moment Generating Function then the answer to your question is no since a particular MGF implies a unique form of a distribution.

Gold Member
Well, I do not know the MGF for that process. I think I cannot determine it just from those two properties.

I just know those two averages. I think there are different processes than Gaussian with the above properties, so I was wondering whether there is some good example...

chiro