Modeling a sequence of design steps, or a sequence of parameter settings,
yields a sequence of dynamical systems. In many cases, such a sequence is
intended to approximate a certain limit case. However, formally defining that
limit turns out to be subject to ambiguity. Depending on the interpretation of
the sequence, i.e. depending on how the behaviors of the systems in the
sequence are related, it may vary what the limit should be. Topologies, and in
particular metrics, define limits uniquely, if they exist. Thus they select one
interpretation implicitly and leave no room for other interpretations. In this
paper, we define limits using category theory, and use the mentioned relations
between system behaviors explicitly. This resolves the problem of ambiguity in
a more controlled way. We introduce a category of prefix orders on executions
and partial history preserving maps between them to describe both discrete and
continuous branching time dynamics. We prove that in this category all
projective limits exist, and illustrate how ambiguity in the definition of
limits is resolved using an example. Moreover, we show how various problems
with known topological approaches are now resolved, and how the construction of
projective limits enables us to approximate continuous time dynamics as a
sequence of discrete time systems.Comment: In Proceedings EXPRESS/SOS 2013, arXiv:1307.690
