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13.6 Poisson Distribution, Log Parameterization

Stan also provides a parameterization of the Poisson using the log rate $\alpha = \log \lambda$ as a parameter. This is useful for log-linear Poisson regressions so that the predictor does not need to be exponentiated and passed into the standard Poisson probability function.

13.6.1 Probability Mass Function

If $\alpha \in \mathbb{R}$, then for $n \in \mathbb{N}$, $$\text{PoissonLog}(n|\alpha) = \frac{1}{n!} \, \exp \left(n\alpha - \exp(\alpha) \right).$$

13.6.2 Sampling Statement

n ~ poisson_log(alpha)

Increment target log probability density with poisson_log_lpmf( n | alpha) dropping constant additive terms.

13.6.3 Stan Functions

real poisson_log_lpmf(ints n | reals alpha)
The log Poisson probability mass of n given log rate alpha

R poisson_log_rng(reals alpha)
Generate a Poisson variate with log rate alpha; may only be used in transformed data and generated quantities blocks. alpha must be less than $30 \log 2$. For a description of argument and return types, see section vectorized function signatures.