Limit Complexities, Minimal Descriptions, and $n$-Randomness

Abstract

Let $K$ denote prefix-free Kolmogorov Complexity, and $K^A$ denote it relative to an oracle $A$. We show that for any $n$, $K^{\emptyset^{(n)}}$ is definable purely in terms of the unrelativized notion $K$. It was already known that 2-randomness is definable in terms of $K$ (and plain complexity $C$) as those reals which infinitely often have maximal complexity. We can use our characterization to show that $n$-randomness is definable purely in terms of $K$. To do this we extend a certain ``limsup'' formula from the literature, and apply Symmetry of Information. This extension entails a novel use of semilow sets, and a more precise analysis of the complexity of $\Delta_2^0$ sets of mimimal descriptions.