3,711 research outputs found
Isomorphisms of types in the presence of higher-order references (extended version)
We investigate the problem of type isomorphisms in the presence of
higher-order references. We first introduce a finitary programming language
with sum types and higher-order references, for which we build a fully abstract
games model following the work of Abramsky, Honda and McCusker. Solving an open
problem by Laurent, we show that two finitely branching arenas are isomorphic
if and only if they are geometrically the same, up to renaming of moves
(Laurent's forest isomorphism). We deduce from this an equational theory
characterizing isomorphisms of types in our language. We show however that
Laurent's conjecture does not hold on infinitely branching arenas, yielding new
non-trivial type isomorphisms in a variant of our language with natural
numbers
An Intuitionistic Formula Hierarchy Based on High-School Identities
We revisit the notion of intuitionistic equivalence and formal proof
representations by adopting the view of formulas as exponential polynomials.
After observing that most of the invertible proof rules of intuitionistic
(minimal) propositional sequent calculi are formula (i.e. sequent) isomorphisms
corresponding to the high-school identities, we show that one can obtain a more
compact variant of a proof system, consisting of non-invertible proof rules
only, and where the invertible proof rules have been replaced by a formula
normalisation procedure.
Moreover, for certain proof systems such as the G4ip sequent calculus of
Vorob'ev, Hudelmaier, and Dyckhoff, it is even possible to see all of the
non-invertible proof rules as strict inequalities between exponential
polynomials; a careful combinatorial treatment is given in order to establish
this fact.
Finally, we extend the exponential polynomial analogy to the first-order
quantifiers, showing that it gives rise to an intuitionistic hierarchy of
formulas, resembling the classical arithmetical hierarchy, and the first one
that classifies formulas while preserving isomorphism
Perspectives for proof unwinding by programming languages techniques
In this chapter, we propose some future directions of work, potentially
beneficial to Mathematics and its foundations, based on the recent import of
methodology from the theory of programming languages into proof theory. This
scientific essay, written for the audience of proof theorists as well as the
working mathematician, is not a survey of the field, but rather a personal view
of the author who hopes that it may inspire future and fellow researchers
Higher-dimensional Algebra and Topological Quantum Field Theory
The study of topological quantum field theories increasingly relies upon
concepts from higher-dimensional algebra such as n-categories and n-vector
spaces. We review progress towards a definition of n-category suited for this
purpose, and outline a program in which n-dimensional TQFTs are to be described
as n-category representations. First we describe a "suspension" operation on
n-categories, and hypothesize that the k-fold suspension of a weak n-category
stabilizes for k >= n+2. We give evidence for this hypothesis and describe its
relation to stable homotopy theory. We then propose a description of
n-dimensional unitary extended TQFTs as weak n-functors from the "free stable
weak n-category with duals on one object" to the n-category of "n-Hilbert
spaces". We conclude by describing n-categorical generalizations of deformation
quantization and the quantum double construction.Comment: 36 pages, LaTeX; this version includes all 36 figure
Inversion, Iteration, and the Art of Dual Wielding
The humble ("dagger") is used to denote two different operations in
category theory: Taking the adjoint of a morphism (in dagger categories) and
finding the least fixed point of a functional (in categories enriched in
domains). While these two operations are usually considered separately from one
another, the emergence of reversible notions of computation shows the need to
consider how the two ought to interact. In the present paper, we wield both of
these daggers at once and consider dagger categories enriched in domains. We
develop a notion of a monotone dagger structure as a dagger structure that is
well behaved with respect to the enrichment, and show that such a structure
leads to pleasant inversion properties of the fixed points that arise as a
result. Notably, such a structure guarantees the existence of fixed point
adjoints, which we show are intimately related to the conjugates arising from a
canonical involutive monoidal structure in the enrichment. Finally, we relate
the results to applications in the design and semantics of reversible
programming languages.Comment: Accepted for RC 201
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