Axiomatics for the external numbers of nonstandard analysis

Neutrices are additive subgroups of a nonstandard model of the real numbers. An external number is the algebraic sum of a nonstandard real number and a neutrix. Due to the stability by some shifts, external numbers may be seen as mathematical models for orders of magnitude. The algebraic properties of external numbers gave rise to the so-called solids, which are extensions of ordered fields, having a restricted distributivity law. However, necessary and sufficient conditions can be given for distributivity to hold. In this article we develop an axiomatics for the external numbers. The axioms are similar to, but mostly somewhat weaker than the axioms for the real numbers and deal with algebraic rules, Dedekind completeness and the Archimedean property. A structure satisfying these axioms is called a complete arithmetical solid. We show that the external numbers form a complete arithmetical solid, implying the consistency of the axioms presented. We also show that the set of precise elements (elements with minimal magnitude) has a built-in nonstandard model of the rationals. Indeed the set of precise elements is situated between the nonstandard rationals and the nonstandard reals whereas the set of non-precise numbers is completely determined

The computational content of Nonstandard Analysis

Kohlenbach's proof mining program deals with the extraction of effective information from typically ineffective proofs. Proof mining has its roots in Kreisel's pioneering work on the so-called unwinding of proofs. The proof mining of classical mathematics is rather restricted in scope due to the existence of sentences without computational content which are provable from the law of excluded middle and which involve only two quantifier alternations. By contrast, we show that the proof mining of classical Nonstandard Analysis has a very large scope. In particular, we will observe that this scope includes any theorem of pure Nonstandard Analysis, where `pure' means that only nonstandard definitions (and not the epsilon-delta kind) are used. In this note, we survey results in analysis, computability theory, and Reverse Mathematics.Comment: In Proceedings CL&C 2016, arXiv:1606.0582

Reverse Mathematics and parameter-free Transfer

Recently, conservative extensions of Peano and Heyting arithmetic in the spirit of Nelson's axiomatic approach to Nonstandard Analysis, have been proposed. In this paper, we study the Transfer axiom of Nonstandard Analysis restricted to formulas without parameters. Based on this axiom, we formulate a base theory for the Reverse Mathematics of Nonstandard Analysis and prove some natural reversals, and show that most of these equivalences do not hold in the absence of parameter-free Transfer.Comment: 22 pages; to appear in Annals of Pure and Applied Logi