Memory equations as reduced Markov processes

A large class of linear memory differential equations in one dimension, where the evolution depends on the whole history, can be equivalently described as a projection of a Markov process living in a higher dimensional space. Starting with such a memory equation, we propose an explicit construction of the corresponding Markov process. From a physical point of view the Markov process can be understood as a change of the type of some quasiparticles along one-way loops. Typically, the arising Markov process does not have the detailed balance property. The method leads to a more realistic modeling of memory equations. Moreover, it carries over the large number of investigation tools for Markov processes to memory equations like the calculation of the equilibrium state. The method can be used for an approximative solution of some degenerate memory equations like delay differential equations.