Automata theory in nominal sets

We study languages over infinite alphabets equipped with some structure that can be tested by recognizing automata. We develop a framework for studying such alphabets and the ensuing automata theory, where the key role is played by an automorphism group of the alphabet. In the process, we generalize nominal sets due to Gabbay and Pitts

Partial Automata and Finitely Generated Congruences: An Extension of Nerode's Theorem

Let T_Sigma be the set of ground terms over a finite ranked alphabet Sigma. We define partial autornata on T_Sigma and prove that the finitely generated congruences on T_Sigma are in one-to one correspondence (up to isomorphism) with the finite partial automata on Sigma with no inaccessible and no inessential states. We give an application in term rewriting: every ground term rewrite system has a canonical equivalent system that can be constructed in polynomial time

Myhill's work in recursion theory

AbstractIn this paper we discuss the following contributions to recursion theory made by John Myhill: (1) two sets are recursively isomorphic iff they are one-one equivalent; (2) two sets are recursively isomorphic iff they are recursively equivalent and their complements are also recursively equivalent; (3) every two creative sets are recursively isomorphic; (4) the recursive analogue of the Cantor–Bernstein theorem; (5) the notion of a combinatorial function and its use in the theory of recursive equivalence types

Constructively formalizing automata theory

We present a constructive formalization of the Myhill-Nerode the-orem on the minimization of nite automata that follows the account in Hopcroft and Ullman's book Formal Languages and Their Relation to Automata. We chose to formalize this theorem because it illustrates many points critical to formalization of computational mathematics, especially the extraction of an important algorithm from a proof as a method of knowing that the algorithm is correct. It also gave us an opportunity to experiment with a constructive implementation of quotient sets. We carried out the formalization in Nuprl, an interactive theorem prover based on constructive type theory. Nuprl borrows an imple-mentation of the ML language from the LCF system of Milner, Gordon, and Wadsworth, and makes heavy use of the notion of tactic pioneered by Milner in LCF. We are interested in the pedagogical value of electronic formal mathematical texts and have put our formalization on the World Wide Web. Readers are invited to judge whether the formalization adds value in comparison to a careful informal account. Key Words and Phrases: automata, constructivity, congruence, equivalence relation, formal languages, foundational logic, LCF, logic, Martin-Lof semantics, Myhill-Nerode theorem, Nuprl, program extrac