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arXiv · 2007.08638

Probabilistic Programming Semantics for Name Generation

Marcin Sabok·Sam Staton·Dario Stein·Michael Wolman
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Abstract

We make a formal analogy between random sampling and fresh name generation. We show that quasi-Borel spaces, a model for probabilistic programming, can soundly interpret Stark's $\nu$-calculus, a calculus for name generation. Moreover, we prove that this semantics is fully abstract up to first-order types. This is surprising for an 'off-the-shelf' model, and requires a novel analysis of probability distributions on function spaces. Our tools are diverse and include descriptive set theory and normal forms for the $\nu$-calculus.

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Marcin Sabok, Sam Staton, Dario Stein, Michael Wolman. 2020-07-16. Probabilistic Programming Semantics for Name Generation. https://arxiv.org/abs/2007.08638

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