Linear Logic and Strong Normalization

Strong normalization for linear logic requires elaborated rewriting techniques. In this paper we give a new presentation of MELL proof nets, without any commutative cut-elimination rule. We show how this feature induces a compact and simple proof of strong normalization, via reducibility candidates. It is the first proof of strong normalization for MELL which does not rely on any form of confluence, and so it smoothly scales up to full linear logic. Moreover, it is an axiomatic proof, as more generally it holds for every set of rewriting rules satisfying three very natural requirements with respect to substitution, commutation with promotion, full composition, and Kesner\u27s IE property. The insight indeed comes from the theory of explicit substitutions, and from looking at the exponentials as a substitution device

Proof-Net as Graph, Taylor Expansion as Pullback

We introduce a new graphical representation for multiplicative and exponential linear logic proof-structures, based only on standard labelled oriented graphs and standard notions of graph theory. The inductive structure of boxes is handled by means of a box-tree. Our proof-structures are canonical and allows for an elegant definition of their Taylor expansion by means of pullbacks

Compressing Polarized Boxes

Abstract—The sequential nature of sequent calculus provides a simple definition of cut-elimination rules that duplicate or erase sub-proofs. The parallel nature of proof nets, instead, requires the introduction of explicit boxes, which are global and synchronous constraints on the structure of graphs. We show that logical polarity can be exploited to obtain an implicit, compact, and natural representation of boxes: in an expressive polarized dialect of linear logic, boxes may be represented by simply recording some of the polarity changes occurring in the box at level 0. The content of the box can then be recovered locally and unambiguously. Moreover, implicit boxes are more parallel than explicit boxes, as they realize a larger quotient. We provide a correctness criterion and study the novel and subtle cut-elimination dynamics induced by implicit boxes, proving confluence and strong normalization