Dichotomy Results for Fixed Point Counting in Boolean Dynamical Systems

We present dichotomy theorems regarding the computational complexity of counting fixed points in boolean (discrete) dynamical systems, i.e., finite discrete dynamical systems over the domain {0,1}. For a class F of boolean functions and a class G of graphs, an (F,G)-system is a boolean dynamical system with local transitions functions lying in F and graphs in G. We show that, if local transition functions are given by lookup tables, then the following complexity classification holds: Let F be a class of boolean functions closed under superposition and let G be a graph class closed under taking minors. If F contains all min-functions, all max-functions, or all self-dual and monotone functions, and G contains all planar graphs, then it is #P-complete to compute the number of fixed points in an (F,G)-system; otherwise it is computable in polynomial time. We also prove a dichotomy theorem for the case that local transition functions are given by formulas (over logical bases). This theorem has a significantly more complicated structure than the theorem for lookup tables. A corresponding theorem for boolean circuits coincides with the theorem for formulas.Comment: 16 pages, extended abstract presented at 10th Italian Conference on Theoretical Computer Science (ICTCS'2007

On the Descriptive Complexity of Temporal Constraint Satisfaction Problems

Finite-domain constraint satisfaction problems are either solvable by Datalog, or not even expressible in fixed-point logic with counting. The border between the two regimes coincides with an important dichotomy in universal algebra; in particular, the border can be described by a strong height-one Maltsev condition. For infinite-domain CSPs, the situation is more complicated even if the template structure of the CSP is model-theoretically tame. We prove that there is no Maltsev condition that characterizes Datalog already for the CSPs of first-order reducts of (Q;<); such CSPs are called temporal CSPs and are of fundamental importance in infinite-domain constraint satisfaction. Our main result is a complete classification of temporal CSPs that can be expressed in one of the following logical formalisms: Datalog, fixed-point logic (with or without counting), or fixed-point logic with the Boolean rank operator. The classification shows that many of the equivalent conditions in the finite fail to capture expressibility in Datalog or fixed-point logic already for temporal CSPs.Comment: 57 page

The condensation phase transition in the regular kk-SAT model

Much of the recent work on random constraint satisfaction problems has been inspired by ingenious but non-rigorous approaches from physics. The physics predictions typically come in the form of distributional fixed point problems that are intended to mimic Belief Propagation, a message passing algorithm, applied to the random CSP. In this paper we propose a novel method for harnessing Belief Propagation directly to obtain a rigorous proof of such a prediction, namely the existence and location of a condensation phase transition in the random regular $k$-SAT model.Comment: Revised version based on arXiv:1504.03975, version

Gauge theory of things alive and universal dynamics

Positing complex adaptive systems made of agents with relations between them that can be composed, it follows that they can be described by gauge theories similar to elementary particle theory and general relativity. By definition, a universal dynamics is able to determine the time development of any such system without need for further specification. The possibilities are limited, but one of them - reproduction fork dynamics - describes DNA replication and is the basis of biological life on earth. It is a universal copy machine and a renormalization group fixed point. A universal equation of motion in continuous time is also presented.Comment: 13 pages, latex, uses fleqn.sty (can be removed without harm

Abstract Syntax and Variable Binding (Extended Abstract)

We develop a theory of abstract syntax with variable binding. To every binding signature we associate a category of models consisting of variable sets endowed with compatible algebra and substitution structures. The syntax generated by the signature is the initial model. This gives a notion of initial algebra semantics encompassing the traditional one; besides compositionality, it automatically veri- fies the semantic substitution lemma

Clones with finitely many relative R-classes

For each clone C on a set A there is an associated equivalence relation analogous to Green's R-relation, which relates two operations on A iff each one is a substitution instance of the other using operations from C. We study the clones for which there are only finitely many relative R-classes.Comment: 41 pages; proofs improved, examples adde