Small-time expansions for the transition distributions of L\'evy processes

Let $X$ be a L'evy process with absolutely continuous L'evy measure $\nu$. Small time polynomial expansions of order $n$ in $t$ are obtained for the tails $P(X_t\ge y)$ of the process, assuming smoothness conditions on the L'evy density away from the origin. By imposing additional regularity conditions on the transition density $p_t$ of $X_t$, an explicit expression for the remainder of the approximation is also given. As a byproduct, polynomial expansions of order $n$ in $t$ are derived for the transition densities of the process. The conditions imposed on $p_t$ require that its derivatives remain uniformly bounded away from the origin, as $t\to 0$; such conditions are shown to be satisfied for symmetric stable L'evy processes as well as for other related L'evy processes of relevance in mathematical finance. The expansions seem to correct asymptotics previously reported in the literature.