Computable topology


Computable topology is a discipline in mathematics that studies the topological and algebraic structure of computation. Computable topology is not to be confused with algorithmic or computational topology, which studies the application of computation to topology.

Topology of lambda calculus

As shown by Alan Turing and Alonzo Church, the λ-calculus is strong enough to describe all mechanically computable functions. Lambda-calculus is thus effectively a programming language, from which other languages can be built. For this reason when considering the topology of computation it is common to focus on the topology of λ-calculus. Note that this is not necessarily a complete description of the topology of computation, since functions which are equivalent in the Church-Turing sense may still have different topologies.
The topology of λ-calculus is the [|Scott topology], and when restricted to continuous functions the type free λ-calculus amounts to a topological space reliant on the tree topology. Both the Scott and Tree topologies exhibit continuity with respect to the binary operators of application and abstraction ) with a modular equivalence relation based on a congruency. The λ-algebra describing the algebraic structure of the lambda-calculus is found to be an extension of the combinatory algebra, with an element introduced to accommodate abstraction.
Type free λ-calculus treats functions as rules and does not differentiate functions and the objects which they are applied to, meaning λ-calculus is type free. A by-product of type free λ-calculus is an effective computability equivalent to general recursion and Turing machines. The set of λ-terms can be considered a functional topology in which a function space can be embedded, meaning λ mappings within the space X are such that λ:X → X. Introduced November 1969, Dana Scott's untyped set theoretic model constructed a proper topology for any λ-calculus model whose function space is limited to continuous functions. The result of a Scott continuous λ-calculus topology is a function space built upon a programming semantic allowing fixed point combinatorics, such as the Y combinator, and data types. By 1971, λ-calculus was equipped to define any sequential computation and could be easily adapted to parallel computations. The reducibility of all computations to λ-calculus allows these λ-topological properties to become adopted by all programming languages.

Computational algebra from λ-calculus algebra

Based on the operators within lambda calculus, application and abstraction, it is possible to develop an algebra whose group structure uses application and abstraction as binary operators. Application is defined as an operation between lambda terms producing a λ-term, e.g. the application of λ onto the lambda term a produces the lambda term λa. Abstraction incorporates undefined variables by denoting λx.t as the function assigning the variable a to the lambda term with value t via the operation ). Lastly, an equivalence relation emerges which identifies λ-terms modulo convertible terms, an example being beta normal form.

Scott topology

The Scott topology is essential in understanding the topological structure of computation as expressed through the λ-calculus. Scott found that after constructing a function space using λ-calculus one obtains a Kolmogorov space, a topological space which exhibits pointwise convergence, in short the product topology. It is the ability of self homeomorphism as well as the ability to embed every space into such a space, denoted Scott continuous, as previously described which allows Scott's topology to be applicable to logic and recursive function theory. Scott approaches his derivation using a complete lattice, resulting in a topology dependent on the lattice structure. It is possible to generalise Scott's theory with the use of complete partial orders. For this reason a more general understanding of the computational topology is provided through complete partial orders. We will re-iterate to familiarize ourselves with the notation to be used during the discussion of Scott topology.
Complete partial orders are defined as follows:
First, given the partially ordered set D=, a nonempty subset X ⊆ D is directed if ∀ x,y ∈ X ∃ z ∈ X where x≤ z & y ≤ z.
D is a complete partial order if:
We are now able to define the Scott topology over a cpo.
O ⊆ D is open if:
Using the Scott topological definition of open it is apparent that all topological properties are met.
Though not shown here, it is the case that the map is continuous if and only if f = sup for all directed X⊆D, where f = and the second supremum in.
Before we begin explaining that application as common to λ-calculus is continuous within the Scott topology we require a certain understanding of the behavior of supremums over continuous functions as well as the conditions necessary for the product of spaces to be continuous namely
We now show the continuity of application. Using the definition of application as follows:
Ap is continuous with respect to the Scott topology on the product :

Böhm trees and computational topology

, easily represented graphically, express the computational behavior of a lambda term. It is possible to predict the functionality of a given lambda expression from reference to its correlating Böhm tree. Böhm trees can be seen somewhat analogous to where the Böhm tree of a given set is similar to the continued fraction of a real number, and what is more, the Böhm tree corresponding to a sequence in normal form is finite, similar to the rational subset of the Reals.
Böhm trees are defined by a mapping of elements within a sequence of numbers with ordering and a binary operator * to a set of symbols. The Böhm tree is then a relation among a set of symbols through a partial mapping ψ.
Informally Böhm trees may be conceptualized as follows:

Böhm tree and tree topology

It is found that Böhm tree's allow for a continuous mapping from the tree topology to the Scott topology. More specifically:
We begin with the cpo B = on the Scott topology, with ordering of Böhm tree's denoted M⊆ N, meaning M, N are trees and M results from N. The tree topology on the set Ɣ is the smallest set allowing for a continuous map
An equivalent definition would be to say the open sets of Ɣ are the image of the inverse Böhm tree where O is Scott open in B.
The applicability of the Bömh trees and the tree topology has many interesting consequences to λ-terms expressed topologically:

Algebraic structure of computation

New methods of interpretation of the λ-calculus are not only interesting in themselves but allow new modes of thought concerning the behaviors of computer science. The binary operator within the λ-algebra A is application. Application is denoted · and is said to give structure. A combinatory algebra allows for the application operator and acts as a useful starting point but remains insufficient for the λ-calculus in being unable to express abstraction. The λ algebra becomes a combinatory algebra M combined with a syntactic operator λ* that transforms a term B, with constants in M, into C≡ λ* x.B. It is also possible to define an extension model to circumvent the need of the λ* operator by allowing ∀x ⇒ f =g. The construction of the λ-algebra through the introduction of an abstraction operator proceeds as follows:
We must construct an algebra which allows for solutions to equations such as axy = xyy such that a = λ xy.xyy there is need for the combinatory algebra. Relevant attributes of the combinatory algebra are:
Within combinatory algebra there exists applicative structures. An applicative structure W is a combinatory algebra provided:
The combinatory algebra is:
Combinatory algebras remain unable to act as the algebraic structure for λ-calculus, the lack of recursion being a major disadvantage. However the existence of an applicative term ) provides a good starting point to build a λ-calculus algebra. What is needed is the introduction of a lambda term, i.e. include λx.A.
We begin by exploiting the fact that within a combinatory algebra M, with A within the set of terms, then:
We then require b have a dependence on resulting in:
B becomes equivalent to a λ term, and is therefore suitably defined as follows: B can now be defined.
Before defining the full λ-algebra we must introduce the following definition for the set of λ-terms within W denoted with the following requirements:
A mapping from the terms within to all λ terms within W, denoted * :, can then be designed as follows:
We now define λ to denote the extension after evaluating the terms within.
Finally we obtain the full λ-algebra through the following definition:
Though arduous, the foundation has been set for a proper algebraic framework for which the λ-calculus, and therefore computation, may be investigated in a group theoretic manner.