Pure patterns of order 2

Abstract

We provide mutual elementary recursive order isomorphisms between classical ordinal notations, based on Skolem hulling, and notations from pure elementary patterns of resemblance of order $2$, showing that the latter characterize the proof-theoretic ordinal of the fragment $\Pi^1_1$-$\mathrm{CA}_0$ of second order number theory, or equivalently the set theory $\mathrm{KPl}_0$. As a corollary, we prove that Carlson's result on the well-quasi orderedness of respecting forests of order $2$ implies transfinite induction up to the ordinal of $\mathrm{KPl}_0$. We expect that our approach will facilitate analysis of more powerful systems of patterns.