 ##  [Continuous-Time Markov Chain](/continuous-time-markov-chain) 

  ##  [Continuous-Time Markov Chain](https://engineering.quantumdictionary.io/continuous-time-markov-chain-0) 

  
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**Engineering &amp; Applied Technologies Dictionary**

 
Definition

A stochastic process on a discrete state space evolving in continuous time with the Markov property: the future state probabilities depend only on the current state and time increments via transition rates given by an infinitesimal generator matrix (Q-matrix).