An Introduction to Intertwining via Strong Stationary Duality - First Examples and Basic Setup

Explore the fundamental concepts of Markov chains and mixing times in this Distinguished Visitor Lecture from the Institute for Mathematical Sciences. Delve into various measures of mixing, including total variation and separation, and understand their relationships. Examine practical applications through card shuffling examples, such as top-to-random and riffle shuffling techniques, along with their analytical approaches. Investigate the Diaconis-Chung-Graham process and gain insights into the existence and initial properties of Strong stationary times. This comprehensive lecture serves as an excellent introduction to the concept of Intertwining via Strong Stationary Duality, providing a solid foundation for further study in this mathematical field.