Combinatorics of branchings in higher dimensional automata

We explore the combinatorial properties of the branching areas of execution paths in higher dimensional automata. Mathematically, this means that we investigate the combinatorics of the negative corner (or branching) homology of a globular $\omega$-category and the combinatorics of a new homology theory called the reduced branching homology. The latter is the homology of the quotient of the branching complex by the sub-complex generated by its thin elements. Conjecturally it coincides with the non reduced theory for higher dimensional automata, that is $\omega$-categories freely generated by precubical sets. As application, we calculate the branching homology of some $\omega$-categories and we give some invariance results for the reduced branching homology. We only treat the branching side. The merging side, that is the case of merging areas of execution paths is similar and can be easily deduced from the branching side.Comment: Final version, see http://www.tac.mta.ca/tac/volumes/8/n12/abstract.htm

About the globular homology of higher dimensional automata

We introduce a new simplicial nerve of higher dimensional automata whose homology groups yield a new definition of the globular homology. With this new definition, the drawbacks noticed with the construction of math.CT/9902151 disappear. Moreover the important morphisms which associate to every globe its corresponding branching area and merging area of execution paths become morphisms of simplicial sets.Comment: 44 pages ; LaTeX2e, 1 figure ; final version to appear in CTGD

Labeled homology of higher-dimensional automata

We construct labeling homomorphisms on the cubical homology of higher-dimensional automata and show that they are natural with respect to cubical dimaps and compatible with the tensor product of HDAs. We also indicate two possible applications of labeled homology in concurrency theory.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Classification of Quantum Cellular Automata

There exists an index theory to classify strictly local quantum cellular automata in one dimension. We consider two classification questions. First, we study to what extent this index theory can be applied in higher dimensions via dimensional reduction, finding a classification by the first homology group of the manifold modulo torsion. Second, in two dimensions, we show that an extension of this index theory (including torsion) fully classifies quantum cellular automata, at least in the absence of fermionic degrees of freedom. This complete classification in one and two dimensions by index theory is not expected to extend to higher dimensions due to recent evidence of a nontrivial automaton in three dimensions. Finally, we discuss some group theoretical aspects of the classification of quantum cellular automata and consider these automata on higher dimensional real projective spaces.Comment: 53 pages, 15 figures; v2: minor corrections, final version in pres

Investigating The Algebraic Structure of Dihomotopy Types

This presentation is the sequel of a paper published in GETCO'00 proceedings where a research program to construct an appropriate algebraic setting for the study of deformations of higher dimensional automata was sketched. This paper focuses precisely on detailing some of its aspects. The main idea is that the category of homotopy types can be embedded in a new category of dihomotopy types, the embedding being realized by the Globe functor. In this latter category, isomorphism classes of objects are exactly higher dimensional automata up to deformations leaving invariant their computer scientific properties as presence or not of deadlocks (or everything similar or related). Some hints to study the algebraic structure of dihomotopy types are given, in particular a rule to decide whether a statement/notion concerning dihomotopy types is or not the lifting of another statement/notion concerning homotopy types. This rule does not enable to guess what is the lifting of a given notion/statement, it only enables to make the verification, once the lifting has been found.Comment: 28 pages ; LaTeX2e + 4 figures ; Expository paper ; Minor typos corrections ; To appear in GETCO'01 proceeding

Towards a homotopy theory of process algebra

This paper proves that labelled flows are expressive enough to contain all process algebras which are a standard model for concurrency. More precisely, we construct the space of execution paths and of higher dimensional homotopies between them for every process name of every process algebra with any synchronization algebra using a notion of labelled flow. This interpretation of process algebra satisfies the paradigm of higher dimensional automata (HDA): one non-degenerate full $n$-dimensional cube (no more no less) in the underlying space of the time flow corresponding to the concurrent execution of $n$ actions. This result will enable us in future papers to develop a homotopical approach of process algebras. Indeed, several homological constructions related to the causal structure of time flow are possible only in the framework of flows.Comment: 33 pages ; LaTeX2e ; 1 eps figure ; package semantics included ; v2 HDA paradigm clearly stated and simplification in a homotopical argument ; v3 "bug" fixed in notion of non-twisted shell + several redactional improvements ; v4 minor correction : the set of labels must not be ordered ; published at http://intlpress.com/HHA/v10/n1/a16