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Consider a Q-matrix on a countable state space. (A Q-matrix is a matrix whose rows sum up to $0$, with nonpositive finite diagonal entries and nonnegative off-diagonal entries.)

As explained for example in the book of Norris on Markov chains, every Q-matrix (without any further assumptions) defines a transition function (given by the minimal nonnegative solution of the corresponding backward equation).

Is the the semigroup associated to this minimal transition function always Feller? (definition of Feller: functions vanishing at infinity are mapped into functions vanishing at infinity).

I know that in general, not every continuous time Markov chain is Feller, but I guess that for these minimal chains it is always true without further assumptions on $Q$. Though I didn't find a statement like this in the books I consulted.

Does anybody have a reference/proof/counterexample?

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    I see waht you mean now. There is also another problem: in general the Q-matrix of a (standard) transition function is not as nice as I defined it (the diagonal entries could be infinite, or the row sum positive). This restricts the possible non Feller counterexamples even more. A typical condition which implies uniquness for the backward equation is the rates to be uniformly bounded. But this implies also the Feller property, so it wouldn't help. Let me know if you have further ideas! thanks.2012-02-13

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Not every continuous time minimal Markov chain has the Feller property. See a counterexample.