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Cristian S. Calude

Publications and source records attributed to Cristian S. Calude.

41 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Passages of Proof

In this paper we propose a new perspective on the evolution and history of the idea of mathematical proof. Proofs will be studied at three levels: syntactical, semantical and pragmatical. Computer-assisted proofs will be give a special attention. Finally, in a highly speculative part, we will anticipate the evolution of proofs under the assumption that the quantum computer will materialize. We will argue that there is little `intrinsic' difference between traditional and `unconventional' types of proofs.

math.HO↗

Transcending the Limits of Turing Computability

Hypercomputation or super-Turing computation is a ``computation'' that transcends the limit imposed by Turing's model of computability. The field still faces some basic questions, technical (can we mathematically and/or physically build a hypercomputer?), cognitive (can hypercomputers realize the AI dream?), philosophical (is thinking more than computing?). The aim of this paper is to address the question: can we mathematically build a hypercomputer? We will discuss the solutions of the Infinite Merchant Problem, a decision problem equivalent to the Halting Problem, based on results obtained in \cite{Coins,acp}. The accent will be on the new computational technique and results rather than formal proofs.

quant-ph↗

Coins, Quantum Measurements, and Turing's Barrier

Is there any hope for quantum computing to challenge the Turing barrier, i.e. to solve an undecidable problem, to compute an uncomputable function? According to Feynman's '82 argument, the answer is {\it negative}. This paper re-opens the case: we will discuss solutions to a few simple problems which suggest that {\it quantum computing is {\it theoretically} capable of computing uncomputable functions}. In this paper a mathematical quantum "device" (with sensitivity $ε$) is constructed to solve the Halting Problem. The "device" works on a randomly chosen test-vector for $T$ units of time. If the "device" produces a click, then the program halts. If it does not produce a click, then either the program does not halt or the test-vector has been chosen from an {\it undistinguishable set of vectors} ${\IF}_{ε, T}$. The last case is not dangerous as our main result proves: {\it the Wiener measure of} ${\IF}_{ε, T}$ {\it constructively tends to zero when} $T$ {\it tends to infinity}. The "device", working in time $T$, appropriately computed, will determine with a pre-established precision whether an arbitrary program halts or not. {\it Building the "halting machine" is mathematically possible.}

quant-ph↗

Computing A Glimpse of Randomness

A Chaitin Omega number is the halting probability of a universal Chaitin (self-delimiting Turing) machine. Every Omega number is both computably enumerable (the limit of a computable, increasing, converging sequence of rationals) and random (its binary expansion is an algorithmic random sequence). In particular, every Omega number is strongly non-computable. The aim of this paper is to describe a procedure, which combines Java programming and mathematical proofs, for computing the exact values of the first 64 bits of a Chaitin Omega: 0000001000000100000110001000011010001111110010111011101000010000. Full description of programs and proofs will be given elsewhere.

nlin.CD↗

Incompleteness, Complexity, Randomness and Beyond

Goedel's Incompleteness Theorems have the same scientific status as Einstein's principle of relativity, Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, and Watson and Crick's double helix model of DNA. Our aim is to discuss some new faces of the incompleteness phenomenon unveiled by an information-theoretic approach to randomness and recent developments in quantum computing.

quant-ph↗