Large deviations for the maximum and reversed order statistics of Weibull-like variables

Abstract: Motivated by metastability in the zero-range process, we consider i.i.d.\ random variables with values in $\N_0$ and Weibull-like (stretched exponential) law $\mathbb P(X_i =k) = c \exp( - k^\alpha)$, $\alpha \in (0,1)$. We condition on large values of the sum $S_n= \mu n + s n^\gamma$ and prove large deviation principles for the rescaled maximum $M_n /n^\gamma$ and for the reversed order statistics. The scale is $n^\gamma$ with $\gamma = 1/(2-\alpha)$; on that scale, the big-jump principle for heavy-tailed variables and a naive normal approximation for moderate deviations yield bounds of the same order $n^{\gamma \alpha} = n^{2\gamma-1}$, the speed of the large deviation principles. The rate function for $M_n/n^\gamma$ is non-convex and solves a recursive equation similar to a Bellman equation.