Turing machines and the spectra of first-order formulas with equality

Author(s):  
Neil D. Jones ◽  
Alan L. Selman
Keyword(s):  
2021 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Hirsch ◽  
Jaš Šemrl

AbstractThe motivation for using demonic calculus for binary relations stems from the behaviour of demonic turing machines, when modelled relationally. Relational composition (; ) models sequential runs of two programs and demonic refinement ($$\sqsubseteq $$ ⊑ ) arises from the partial order given by modeling demonic choice ($$\sqcup $$ ⊔ ) of programs (see below for the formal relational definitions). We prove that the class $$R(\sqsubseteq , ;)$$ R ( ⊑ , ; ) of abstract $$(\le , \circ )$$ ( ≤ , ∘ ) structures isomorphic to a set of binary relations ordered by demonic refinement with composition cannot be axiomatised by any finite set of first-order $$(\le , \circ )$$ ( ≤ , ∘ ) formulas. We provide a fairly simple, infinite, recursive axiomatisation that defines $$R(\sqsubseteq , ;)$$ R ( ⊑ , ; ) . We prove that a finite representable $$(\le , \circ )$$ ( ≤ , ∘ ) structure has a representation over a finite base. This appears to be the first example of a signature for binary relations with composition where the representation class is non-finitely axiomatisable, but where the finite representation property holds for finite structures.


1994 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 435-477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fritz Henglein ◽  
Harry G. Mairson

AbstractWe analyse the computational complexity of type inference for untyped λ-terms in the second-order polymorphic typed λ-calculus (F2) invented by Girard and Reynolds, as well as higher-order extensions F3, F4, …, Fω proposed by Girard. We prove that recognising the F2-typable terms requires exponential time, and for Fω the problem is non-elementary. We show as well a sequence of lower bounds on recognising the Fk-typable terms, where the bound for Fk+1 is exponentially larger than that for Fk.The lower bounds are based on generic simulation of Turing Machines, where computation is simulated at the expression and type level simultaneously. Non-accepting computations are mapped to non-normalising reduction sequences, and hence non-typable terms. The accepting computations are mapped to typable terms, where higher-order types encode reduction sequences, and first-order types encode the entire computation as a circuit, based on a unification simulation of Boolean logic. A primary technical tool in this reduction is the composition of polymorphic functions having different domains and ranges.These results are the first nontrivial lower bounds on type inference for the Girard/Reynolds system as well as its higher-order extensions. We hope that the analysis provides important combinatorial insights which will prove useful in the ultimate resolution of the complexity of the type inference problem.


1974 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil D. Jones ◽  
Alan L. Selman

H. Scholz [11] defined the spectrum of a formula φ of first-order logic with equality to be the set of all natural numbers n for which φ has a model of cardinality n. He then asked for a characterization of spectra. Only partial progress has been made. Computational aspects of this problem have been worked on by Gunter Asser [1], A. Mostowski [9], and J. H. Bennett [2]. It is known that spectra include the Grzegorczyk class and are properly included in . However, no progress has been made toward establishing whether spectra properly include , or whether spectra are closed under complementation.A possible connection with automata theory arises from the fact that contains just those sets which are accepted by deterministic linear-bounded Turing machines (Ritchie [10]). Another resemblance lies in the fact that the same two problems (closure under complement, and proper inclusion of ) have remained open for the class of context sensitive languages for several years.In this paper we show that these similarities are not accidental—that spectra and context sensitive languages are closely related, and that their open questions are merely special cases of a family of open questions which relate to the difference (if any) between deterministic and nondeterministic time or space bounded Turing machines.In particular we show that spectra are just those sets which are acceptable by nondeterministic Turing machines in time 2cx, where c is constant and x is the length of the input. Combining this result with results of Bennett [2], Ritchie [10], Kuroda [7], and Cook [3], we obtain the “hierarchy” of classes of sets shown in Figure 1. It is of interest to note that in all of these cases the amount of unrestricted read/write memory appears to be too small to allow diagonalization within the larger classes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 181 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 129-161
Author(s):  
Richard Whyman

We present the concept of a theory machine, which is an atemporal computational formalism that is deployable within an arbitrary logical system. Theory machines are intended to capture computation on an arbitrary system, both physical and unphysical, including quantum computers, Blum-Shub-Smale machines, and infinite time Turing machines. We demonstrate that for finite problems, the computational power of any device characterisable by a finite first-order theory machine is equivalent to that of a Turing machine. Whereas for infinite problems, their computational power is equivalent to that of a type-2 machine. We then develop a concept of complexity for theory machines, and prove that the class of problems decidable by a finite first order theory machine with polynomial resources is equal to 𝒩𝒫 ∩ co-𝒩𝒫.


1982 ◽  
Vol 11 (143) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Harel ◽  
Dexter Kozen

We introduce a programming language IND that generalizes alternating Turing machines to arbitrary first-order structures. We show that IND programs (respectively, everywhere-halting IND programs, loop-free IND programs) accept precisely the inductively definable (respectively, hyperelementary, elementary) relations. We give several examples showing how the language provides a robust and computational approach to the theory of first-order inductive definability. We then show: (1) on all acceptable structures (in the sense of Moschovakis), r.e. Dynamic Logic is more expressive than finite-test Dynamic Logic. This refines a separation result of Meyer and Parikh; (2) IND provides a natural query language for the set of fixpoint queries over a relational database, answering a question of Chandra and Harel.


1984 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 951-954
Author(s):  
Cornelia Kalfa

The recursively unsolvable halting problem for Turing machines is reduced to the problem of the existence or not of an algorithm for deciding whether a field is finite. The latter problem is further reduced to the decision problem of each of propertiesfor recursive sets Σ of equations of strong algebraic languages with infinitely many operation symbols.Decision problems concerning properties of sets of equations were first raised by Tarski [9] and subsequently examined by Perkins [6], McKenzie [4], McNulty [5] and Pigozzi [7]. Perkins is the only one who studied recursive sets; the others investigated finite sets. Since the undecidability of properties Pi for recursive sets of equations does not imply any answer to the corresponding decision problems for finite sets, the latter problems remain open.The work presented here is part of my Ph.D. thesis [2]. I thank Wilfrid Hodges, who supervised it.An algebraic language is a first-order language with equality but without relation symbols. It is here denoted by , where Qi is an operation symbol and cj, is a constant symbol.


2019 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Povinelli ◽  
Gabrielle C. Glorioso ◽  
Shannon L. Kuznar ◽  
Mateja Pavlic

Abstract Hoerl and McCormack demonstrate that although animals possess a sophisticated temporal updating system, there is no evidence that they also possess a temporal reasoning system. This important case study is directly related to the broader claim that although animals are manifestly capable of first-order (perceptually-based) relational reasoning, they lack the capacity for higher-order, role-based relational reasoning. We argue this distinction applies to all domains of cognition.


1984 ◽  
Vol 75 ◽  
pp. 461-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert W. Hart

ABSTRACTThis paper models maximum entropy configurations of idealized gravitational ring systems. Such configurations are of interest because systems generally evolve toward an ultimate state of maximum randomness. For simplicity, attention is confined to ultimate states for which interparticle interactions are no longer of first order importance. The planets, in their orbits about the sun, are one example of such a ring system. The extent to which the present approximation yields insight into ring systems such as Saturn's is explored briefly.


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