Computability Theory

Computability is one of the fundamental notions of mathematics, trying to capture the effective content of mathematics. Starting from Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem, it has now blossomed into a rich area with strong connections with other areas of mathematical logic as well as algebra and theoretical computer science

Calibrating the complexity of Delta 2 sets via their changes

The computational complexity of a Delta 2 set will be calibrated by the amount of changes needed for any of its computable approximations. Firstly, we study Martin-Loef random sets, where we quantify the changes of initial segments. Secondly, we look at c.e. sets, where we quantify the overall amount of changes by obedience to cost functions. Finally, we combine the two settings. The discussions lead to three basic principles on how complexity and changes relate

Infinite time decidable equivalence relation theory

We introduce an analog of the theory of Borel equivalence relations in which we study equivalence relations that are decidable by an infinite time Turing machine. The Borel reductions are replaced by the more general class of infinite time computable functions. Many basic aspects of the classical theory remain intact, with the added bonus that it becomes sensible to study some special equivalence relations whose complexity is beyond Borel or even analytic. We also introduce an infinite time generalization of the countable Borel equivalence relations, a key subclass of the Borel equivalence relations, and again show that several key properties carry over to the larger class. Lastly, we collect together several results from the literature regarding Borel reducibility which apply also to absolutely Delta_1^2 reductions, and hence to the infinite time computable reductions.Comment: 30 pages, 3 figure

Infinite time Turing machines and an application to the hierarchy of equivalence relations on the reals

We describe the basic theory of infinite time Turing machines and some recent developments, including the infinite time degree theory, infinite time complexity theory, and infinite time computable model theory. We focus particularly on the application of infinite time Turing machines to the analysis of the hierarchy of equivalence relations on the reals, in analogy with the theory arising from Borel reducibility. We define a notion of infinite time reducibility, which lifts much of the Borel theory into the class $\bm{\Delta}^1_2$ in a satisfying way.Comment: Submitted to the Effective Mathematics of the Uncountable Conference, 200

Characterizing the strongly jump-traceable sets via randomness

We show that if a set $A$ is computable from every superlow 1-random set, then $A$ is strongly jump-traceable. This theorem shows that the computably enumerable (c.e.) strongly jump-traceable sets are exactly the c.e.\ sets computable from every superlow 1-random set. We also prove the analogous result for superhighness: a c.e.\ set is strongly jump-traceable if and only if it is computable from every superhigh 1-random set. Finally, we show that for each cost function $c$ with the limit condition there is a 1-random $\Delta^0_2$ set $Y$ such that every c.e.\ set $A \le_T Y$ obeys $c$. To do so, we connect cost function strength and the strength of randomness notions. This result gives a full correspondence between obedience of cost functions and being computable from $\Delta^0_2$ 1-random sets.Comment: 41 page