Diophantine sets of polynomials over algebraic extensions of the rationals

Let L be a recursive algebraic extension of Q. Assume that, given alpha is an element of L, we can compute the roots in L of its minimal polynomial over Q and we can determine which roots are Aut(L)-conjugate to alpha. We prove that there exists a pair of polynomials that characterizes the Aut(L)-conjugates of alpha, and that these polynomials can be effectively computed. Assume furthermore that L can be embedded in R, or in a finite extension of Q(p) (with p an odd prime). Then we show that subsets of L[X](k) that are recursively enumerable for every recursive presentation of L[X], are diophantine over L[X]

Real Computational Universality: The Word Problem for a class of groups with infinite presentation

The word problem for discrete groups is well-known to be undecidable by a Turing Machine; more precisely, it is reducible both to and from and thus equivalent to the discrete Halting Problem. The present work introduces and studies a real extension of the word problem for a certain class of groups which are presented as quotient groups of a free group and a normal subgroup. Most important, the free group will be generated by an uncountable set of generators with index running over certain sets of real numbers. This allows to include many mathematically important groups which are not captured in the framework of the classical word problem. Our contribution extends computational group theory from the discrete to the Blum-Shub-Smale (BSS) model of real number computation. We believe this to be an interesting step towards applying BSS theory, in addition to semi-algebraic geometry, also to further areas of mathematics. The main result establishes the word problem for such groups to be not only semi-decidable (and thus reducible FROM) but also reducible TO the Halting Problem for such machines. It thus provides the first non-trivial example of a problem COMPLETE, that is, computationally universal for this model.Comment: corrected Section 4.

On the difficulty of presenting finitely presentable groups

We exhibit classes of groups in which the word problem is uniformly solvable but in which there is no algorithm that can compute finite presentations for finitely presentable subgroups. Direct products of hyperbolic groups, groups of integer matrices, and right-angled Coxeter groups form such classes. We discuss related classes of groups in which there does exist an algorithm to compute finite presentations for finitely presentable subgroups. We also construct a finitely presented group that has a polynomial Dehn function but in which there is no algorithm to compute the first Betti number of the finitely presentable subgroups.Comment: Final version. To appear in GGD volume dedicated to Fritz Grunewal

Constructive Dimension and Turing Degrees

This paper examines the constructive Hausdorff and packing dimensions of Turing degrees. The main result is that every infinite sequence S with constructive Hausdorff dimension dim_H(S) and constructive packing dimension dim_P(S) is Turing equivalent to a sequence R with dim_H(R) <= (dim_H(S) / dim_P(S)) - epsilon, for arbitrary epsilon > 0. Furthermore, if dim_P(S) > 0, then dim_P(R) >= 1 - epsilon. The reduction thus serves as a *randomness extractor* that increases the algorithmic randomness of S, as measured by constructive dimension. A number of applications of this result shed new light on the constructive dimensions of Turing degrees. A lower bound of dim_H(S) / dim_P(S) is shown to hold for the Turing degree of any sequence S. A new proof is given of a previously-known zero-one law for the constructive packing dimension of Turing degrees. It is also shown that, for any regular sequence S (that is, dim_H(S) = dim_P(S)) such that dim_H(S) > 0, the Turing degree of S has constructive Hausdorff and packing dimension equal to 1. Finally, it is shown that no single Turing reduction can be a universal constructive Hausdorff dimension extractor, and that bounded Turing reductions cannot extract constructive Hausdorff dimension. We also exhibit sequences on which weak truth-table and bounded Turing reductions differ in their ability to extract dimension.Comment: The version of this paper appearing in Theory of Computing Systems, 45(4):740-755, 2009, had an error in the proof of Theorem 2.4, due to insufficient care with the choice of delta. This version modifies that proof to fix the error

Ramsey's Theorem for Pairs and kk Colors as a Sub-Classical Principle of Arithmetic

The purpose is to study the strength of Ramsey's Theorem for pairs restricted to recursive assignments of $k$-many colors, with respect to Intuitionistic Heyting Arithmetic. We prove that for every natural number $k \geq 2$, Ramsey's Theorem for pairs and recursive assignments of $k$ colors is equivalent to the Limited Lesser Principle of Omniscience for $\Sigma^0_3$ formulas over Heyting Arithmetic. Alternatively, the same theorem over intuitionistic arithmetic is equivalent to: for every recursively enumerable infinite $k$-ary tree there is some $i < k$ and some branch with infinitely many children of index $i$.Comment: 17 page

Effective strategies for enumeration games

We study the existence of effective winning strategies in certain infinite games, so called enumeration games. Originally, these were introduced by Lachlan (1970) in his study of the lattice of recursively enumerable sets. We argue that they provide a general and interesting framework for computable games and may also be well suited for modelling reactive systems. Our results are obtained by reductions of enumeration games to regular games. For the latter effective winning strategies exist by a classical result of Buechi and Landweber. This provides more perspicuous proofs for several of Lachlan\u27s results as well as a key for new results. It also shows a way of how strategies for regular games can be scaled up such that they apply to much more general games