7 research outputs found
Logics of Finite Hankel Rank
We discuss the Feferman-Vaught Theorem in the setting of abstract model
theory for finite structures. We look at sum-like and product-like binary
operations on finite structures and their Hankel matrices. We show the
connection between Hankel matrices and the Feferman-Vaught Theorem. The largest
logic known to satisfy a Feferman-Vaught Theorem for product-like operations is
CFOL, first order logic with modular counting quantifiers. For sum-like
operations it is CMSOL, the corresponding monadic second order logic. We
discuss whether there are maximal logics satisfying Feferman-Vaught Theorems
for finite structures.Comment: Appeared in YuriFest 2015, held in honor of Yuri Gurevich's 75th
birthday. The final publication is available at Springer via
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23534-9_1
Spectra of Monadic Second-Order Formulas with One Unary Function
We establish the eventual periodicity of the spectrum of any monadic
second-order formula where:
(i) all relation symbols, except equality, are unary, and
(ii) there is only one function symbol and that symbol is unary
Courcelle's Theorem - A Game-Theoretic Approach
Courcelle's Theorem states that every problem definable in Monadic
Second-Order logic can be solved in linear time on structures of bounded
treewidth, for example, by constructing a tree automaton that recognizes or
rejects a tree decomposition of the structure. Existing, optimized software
like the MONA tool can be used to build the corresponding tree automata, which
for bounded treewidth are of constant size. Unfortunately, the constants
involved can become extremely large - every quantifier alternation requires a
power set construction for the automaton. Here, the required space can become a
problem in practical applications.
In this paper, we present a novel, direct approach based on model checking
games, which avoids the expensive power set construction. Experiments with an
implementation are promising, and we can solve problems on graphs where the
automata-theoretic approach fails in practice.Comment: submitte