arXiv subjects

Arno Pauly

Publications and source records attributed to Arno Pauly.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

Computability on the space of countable ordinals

While there is a well-established notion of what a computable ordinal is, the question which functions on the countable ordinals ought to be computable has received less attention so far. We propose a notion of computability on the space of countable ordinals via a representation in the sense of computable analysis. The computability structure is characterized by the computability of four specific operations, and we prove further relevant operations to be computable. Some alternative approaches are discussed, too. As an application in effective descriptive set theory, we can then state and prove computable uniform versions of the Lusin separation theorem and the Hausdorff-Kuratowski theorem. Furthermore, we introduce an operator on the Weihrauch lattice corresponding to iteration of some principle over a countable ordinal.

cs.LO↗

arXiv2017

A semi-potential for finite and infinite sequential games

We consider a dynamical approach to game in extensive forms. By restricting the convertibility relation over strategy profiles, we obtain a semi-potential (in the sense of Kukushkin), and we show that in finite games the corresponding restriction of better-response dynamics will converge to a Nash equilibrium in quadratic (finite) time. Convergence happens on a per-player basis, and even in the presence of players with cyclic preferences, the players with acyclic preferences will stabilize. Thus, we obtain a candidate notion for rationality in the presence of irrational agents. Moreover, the restriction of convertibility can be justified by a conservative updating of beliefs about the other players strategies. For infinite games in extensive form we can retain convergence to a Nash equilibrium (in some sense), if the preferences are given by continuous payoff functions; or obtain a transfinite convergence if the outcome sets of the game are $Δ^0_2$-sets.

cs.GT↗

arXiv2017

A topological view on algebraic computation models

We investigate the topological aspects of some algebraic computation models, in particular the BSS-model. Our results can be seen as bounds on how different BSS-computability and computability in the sense of computable analysis can be. The framework for this is Weihrauch reducibility. As a consequence of our characterizations, we establish that the solvability complexity index is (mostly) independent of the computational model, and that there thus is common ground in the study of non-computability between the BSS and TTE setting.

cs.LO↗

arXiv2017

Noetherian Quasi-Polish Spaces

In the presence of suitable power spaces, compactness of $\mathbf{X}$ can be characterized as the singleton $\{X\}$ being open in the space $\mathcal{O}(\mathbf{X})$ of open subsets of $\mathbf{X}$. Equivalently, this means that universal quantification over a compact space preserves open predicates. Using the language of represented spaces, one can make sense of notions such as a $Σ^0_2$-subset of the space of $Σ^0_2$-subsets of a given space. This suggests higher-order analogues to compactness: We can, e.g.~, investigate the spaces $\mathbf{X}$ where $\{X\}$ is a $Δ^0_2$-subset of the space of $Δ^0_2$-subsets of $\mathbf{X}$. Call this notion $\nabla$-compactness. As $Δ^0_2$ is self-dual, we find that both universal and existential quantifier over $\nabla$-compact spaces preserve $Δ^0_2$ predicates. Recall that a space is called Noetherian iff every subset is compact. Within the setting of Quasi-Polish spaces, we can fully characterize the $\nabla$-compact spaces: A Quasi-Polish space is Noetherian iff it is $\nabla$-compact. Note that the restriction to Quasi-Polish spaces is sufficiently general to include plenty of examples.

math.GN↗

arXiv2016

Extending Finite Memory Determinacy to Multiplayer Games

We show that under some general conditions the finite memory determinacy of a class of two-player win/lose games played on finite graphs implies the existence of a Nash equilibrium built from finite memory strategies for the corresponding class of multi-player multi-outcome games. This generalizes a previous result by Brihaye, De Pril and Schewe. We provide a number of example that separate the various criteria we explore. Our proofs are generally constructive, that is, provide upper bounds for the memory required, as well as algorithms to compute the relevant Nash equilibria.

cs.GT↗

arXiv2016

Comparing representations for function spaces in computable analysis

This paper compares different representations (in the sense of computable analysis) of a number of function spaces that are of interest in analysis. In particular subspace representations inherited from a larger function space are compared to more natural representations for these spaces. The formal framework for the comparisons is provided by Weihrauch reducibility. The centrepiece of the paper considers several representations of the analytic functions on the unit disk and their mutual translations. All translations that are not already computable are shown to be Weihrauch equivalent to closed choice on the natural numbers. Subsequently some similar considerations are carried out for representations of polynomials. In this case in addition to closed choice the Weihrauch degree LPO* shows up as the difficulty of finding the degree or the zeros. As a final example, the smooth functions are contrasted with functions with bounded support and Schwartz functions. Here closed choice on the natural numbers and the lim degree appear.

cs.LO↗

arXiv2016

Minkowski games

We introduce and study Minkowski games. These are two player games, where the players take turns to chose positions in $\mathbb{R}^d$ based on some rules. Variants include boundedness games, where one player wants to keep the positions bounded, and the other wants to escape to infinity; as well as safety games, where one player wants to stay within a prescribed set, while the other wants to leave it. We provide some general characterizations of which player can win such games, and explore the computational complexity of the associated decision problems. A natural representation of boundedness games yields coNP-completeness, whereas the safety games are undecidable.

cs.GT↗

arXiv2016

A Semi-Potential for Finite and Infinite Sequential Games (Extended Abstract)

We consider a dynamical approach to sequential games. By restricting the convertibility relation over strategy profiles, we obtain a semi-potential (in the sense of Kukushkin), and we show that in finite games the corresponding restriction of better-response dynamics will converge to a Nash equilibrium in quadratic time. Convergence happens on a per-player basis, and even in the presence of players with cyclic preferences, the players with acyclic preferences will stabilize. Thus, we obtain a candidate notion for rationality in the presence of irrational agents. Moreover, the restriction of convertibility can be justified by a conservative updating of beliefs about the other players strategies. For infinite sequential games we can retain convergence to a Nash equilibrium (in some sense), if the preferences are given by continuous payoff functions; or obtain a transfinite convergence if the outcome sets of the game are Delta^0_2 sets.

cs.GT↗

arXiv2016

The Vitali Covering Theorem in the Weihrauch Lattice

We study the uniform computational content of the Vitali Covering Theorem for intervals using the tool of Weihrauch reducibility. We show that a more detailed picture emerges than what a related study by Giusto, Brown, and Simpson has revealed in the setting of reverse mathematics. In particular, different formulations of the Vitali Covering Theorem turn out to have different uniform computational content. These versions are either computable or closely related to uniform variants of Weak Weak Kőnig's Lemma.

math.LO↗

arXiv2016

Extending Finite Memory Determinacy to Multiplayer Games

We show that under some general conditions the finite memory determinacy of a class of two-player win/lose games played on finite graphs implies the existence of a Nash equilibrium built from finite memory strategies for the corresponding class of multi-player multi-outcome games. This generalizes a previous result by Brihaye, De Pril and Schewe. For most of our conditions we provide counterexamples showing that they cannot be dispensed with. Our proofs are generally constructive, that is, provide upper bounds for the memory required, as well as algorithms to compute the relevant winning strategies.

cs.GT↗

arXiv2016

Dividing by zero - how bad is it, really?

In computable analysis testing a real number for being zero is a fundamental example of a non-computable task. This causes problems for division: We cannot ensure that the number we want to divide by is not zero. In many cases, any real number would be an acceptable outcome if the divisor is zero - but even this cannot be done in a computable way. In this note we investigate the strength of the computational problem "Robust division": Given a pair of real numbers, the first not greater than the other, output their quotient if well-defined and any real number else. The formal framework is provided by Weihrauch reducibility. One particular result is that having later calls to the problem depending on the outcomes of earlier ones is strictly more powerful than performing all calls concurrently. However, having a nesting depths of two already provides the full power. This solves an open problem raised at a recent Dagstuhl meeting on Weihrauch reducibility. As application for "Robust division", we show that it suffices to execute Gaussian elimination.

cs.LO↗

arXiv2016

Equilibria in multi-player multi-outcome infinite sequential games

We investigate the existence of certain types of equilibria (Nash, $\varepsilon$-Nash, subgame perfect, $\varepsilon$-subgame perfect, Pareto-optimal) in multi-player multi-outcome infinite sequential games. We use two fundamental approaches: one requires strong topological restrictions on the games, but produces very strong existence results. The other merely requires some very basic determinacy properties to still obtain some existence results. Both results are transfer results: starting with the existence of some equilibria for a small class of games, they allow us to conclude the existence of some type of equilibria for a larger class. To make the abstract results more concrete, we investigate as a special case infinite sequential games with real-valued payoff functions. Depending on the class of payoff functions (continuous, upper semi-continuous, Borel) and whether the game is zero-sum, we obtain various existence results for equilibria. Our results hold for games with two or up to countably many players.

cs.LO↗

arXiv2015

Many-one reductions and the category of multivalued functions

Multi-valued functions are common in computable analysis (built upon the Type 2 Theory of Effectivity), and have made an appearance in complexity theory under the moniker search problems leading to complexity classes such as PPAD and PLS being studied. However, a systematic investigation of the resulting degree structures has only been initiated in the former situation so far (the Weihrauch-degrees). A more general understanding is possible, if the category-theoretic properties of multi-valued functions are taken into account. In the present paper, the category-theoretic framework is established, and it is demonstrated that many-one degrees of multi-valued functions form a distributive lattice under very general conditions, regardless of the actual reducibility notions used (e.g. Cook, Karp, Weihrauch). Beyond this, an abundance of open questions arises. Some classic results for reductions between functions carry over to multi-valued functions, but others do not. The basic theme here again depends on category-theoretic differences between functions and multi-valued functions.

cs.CC↗

arXiv2015

Finite choice, convex choice and finding roots

We investigate choice principles in the Weihrauch lattice for finite sets on the one hand, and convex sets on the other hand. Increasing cardinality and increasing dimension both correspond to increasing Weihrauch degrees. Moreover, we demonstrate that the dimension of convex sets can be characterized by the cardinality of finite sets encodable into them. Precisely, choice from an n+1 point set is reducible to choice from a convex set of dimension n, but not reducible to choice from a convex set of dimension n-1. Furthermore we consider searching for zeros of continuous functions. We provide an algorithm producing 3n real numbers containing all zeros of a continuous function with up to n local minima. This demonstrates that having finitely many zeros is a strictly weaker condition than having finitely many local extrema. We can prove 3n to be optimal.

math.LO↗

arXiv2015

Function spaces for second-order polynomial time

In the context of second-order polynomial-time computability, we prove that there is no general function space construction. We proceed to identify restrictions on the domain or the codomain that do provide a function space with polynomial-time function evaluation containing all polynomial-time computable functions of that type. As side results we show that a polynomial-time counterpart to admissibility of a representation is not a suitable criterion for natural representations, and that the Weihrauch degrees embed into the polynomial-time Weihrauch degrees.

cs.CC↗

arXiv2015

A comparison of concepts from computable analysis and effective descriptive set theory

Computable analysis and effective descriptive set theory are both concerned with complete metric spaces, functions between them and subsets thereof in an effective setting. The precise relationship of the various definitions used in the two disciplines has so far been neglected, a situation this paper is meant to remedy. As the role of the Cauchy completion is relevant for both effective approaches to Polish spaces, we consider the interplay of effectivity and completion in some more detail.

cs.LO↗

arXiv2015

Weihrauch degrees of finding equilibria in sequential games

We consider the degrees of non-computability (Weihrauch degrees) of finding winning strategies (or more generally, Nash equilibria) in infinite sequential games with certain winning sets (or more generally, outcome sets). In particular, we show that as the complexity of the winning sets increases in the difference hierarchy, the complexity of constructing winning strategies increases in the effective Borel hierarchy.

cs.LO↗

arXiv2015

On the topological aspects of the theory of represented spaces

Represented spaces form the general setting for the study of computability derived from Turing machines. As such, they are the basic entities for endeavors such as computable analysis or computable measure theory. The theory of represented spaces is well-known to exhibit a strong topological flavour. We present an abstract and very succinct introduction to the field; drawing heavily on prior work by Escardó, Schröder, and others. Central aspects of the theory are function spaces and various spaces of subsets derived from other represented spaces, and -- closely linked to these -- properties of represented spaces such as compactness, overtness and separation principles. Both the derived spaces and the properties are introduced by demanding the computability of certain mappings, and it is demonstrated that typically various interesting mappings induce the same property.

math.LO↗