The conjugacy problem for automorphism groups of countable homogeneous structures

We consider the conjugacy problem for the automorphism groups of a number of countable homogeneous structures. In each case we find the precise complexity of the conjugacy relation in the sense of Borel reducibility

On the classification of automorphisms of trees

We identify the complexity of the classification problem for automorphisms of a given countable regularly branching tree up to conjugacy. We consider both the rooted and unrooted cases. Additionally, we calculate the complexity of the conjugacy problem in the case of automorphisms of several non-regularly branching trees

Automorphisms of corona algebras, and group cohomology

In 2007 Phillips and Weaver showed that, assuming the Continuum Hypothesis, there exists an outer automorphism of the Calkin algebra. (The Calkin algebra is the algebra of bounded operators on a separable complex Hilbert space, modulo the compact operators.) In this paper we establish that the analogous conclusion holds for a broad family of quotient algebras. Specifically, we will show that assuming the Continuum Hypothesis, if $A$ is a separable algebra which is either simple or stable, then the corona of $A$ has nontrivial automorphisms. We also discuss a connection with cohomology theory, namely, that our proof can be viewed as a computation of the cardinality of a particular derived inverse limit

The complexity of classification problems for models of arithmetic

We observe that the classification problem for countable models of arithmetic is Borel complete. On the other hand, the classification problems for finitely generated models of arithmetic and for recursively saturated models of arithmetic are Borel; we investigate the precise complexity of each of these. Finally, we show that the classification problem for pairs of recursively saturated models and for automorphisms of a fixed recursively saturated model are Borel complete.Comment: 15 page

The Fundamental Theorem on Symmetric Polynomials: History's First Whiff of Galois Theory

We describe the Fundamental Theorem on Symmetric Polynomials (FTSP), exposit a classical proof, and offer a novel proof that arose out of an informal course on group theory. The paper develops this proof in tandem with the pedagogical context that led to it. We also discuss the role of the FTSP both as a lemma in the original historical development of Galois theory and as an early example of the connection between symmetry and expressibility that is described by the theory.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figure. Corrected a misattributio

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

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