Mathematics and Computation

With Paul Taylor.

Abstract: Abstract Stone Duality (ASD) is an approach to topology that provides an abstract and conceptually satisfying account of topological spaces. The calculus of ASD reveals the computational content of various topological notions and suggests how to compute with them. The distinguishing feature of ASD is a direct axiomatisation in terms of spaces and maps, which does not rely on an underlying set-theoretic or topos-theoretic foundation.

This paper makes the first step in real analysis within ASD, namely the construction of the real line using two-sided Dedekind cuts. Compactness and overtness of the closed interval are proved, and the arithmetic operations are defined. The ASD calculus gives programs for computing the arithmetic operations and the quantifiers that express compactness and overtness.

As the paper aims to be a self-contained introduction to ASD for those interested in constructive and computable topology and analysis, it includes a rapid survey of the ASD calculus. The foundational background to the calculus was covered in detail in earlier work.

Further topics in real analysis within ASD, such as the Intermediate Value Theorem, are presented in a separate paper by Paul Taylor which builds on this one.

To be presented at Computability and Complexity in Analysis 2005, Kyoto, Japan.

Download: an up-to-date version from Paul Taylor’s Abstract Stone Duality page.

I have created a blog category in which I will stick all my research papers. The idea is to allow people to comment on the papers and have an opportunity for discussion. There are some obvious advantages to this, such as: bug reports, opinions, references to related and relevant topics, a paper and a discussion about it are found in the same place, etc. Right now I do not see any obvious drawbacks, so I hope it will turn out to be a good idea.

This is just to let you know that I moved the blog to a new server, which will be up even when I am away on holidays. The new url is http://math.andrej.com/. If someone knows how to tell all those RSS feeds that seem to be accessing my blog that they should go to the new address, please let me know. Right now I have redirects set up, but that is not an acceptable long-term solution.