Abstract
In a lecture in Kazan (1977), Goncharov dubbed a number of problems regarding the classification of computable members of various classes of structures. Some of the problems seemed likely to have nice answers, while others did not. At the end of the lecture, Shore asked what would be a convincing negative result. The goal of the present article is to consider some possible answers to Shore's question. We consider structures Д of some computable language, whose universes are computable sets of constants. In measuring complexity, we identify Д with its atomic diagram D(Д), which, via the Gödel numbering, may be treated as a subset of ω. In particular, Д is computable if D(Д) is computable. If K is some class, then Kc denotes the set of computable members of K. A computable characterization for K should separate the computable members of K from other structures, that is, those that either are not in K or are not computable. A computable classification (structure theorem) should describe each member of Kc up to isomorphism, or other equivalence, in terms of relatively simple invariants. A computable non-structure theorem would assert that there is no computable structure theorem. We use three approaches. They all give the “correct” answer for vector spaces over Q, and for linear orderings. Under all of the approaches, both classes have a computable characterization, and there is a computable classification for vector spaces, but not for linear orderings. Finally, we formulate some open problems.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
W. Hodges, “What is a structure theory?,” Bull. London Math. Soc., 19, No. 3(78) 209-237 (1987).
S. Shelah, “Classification of first order theories which have a structure theorem,” Bull. Am. Math. Soc., 12, No. 2, 227-232 (1985).
H. Friedman and L. Stanley, “On Borel reducibility theory for classes of computable structures,” J. Symb. Log., 54, No. 3, 894-914 (1989).
C. J. Ash and J. F. Knight, Computable Structures and the Hyperarithmetical Hierarchy, Elsevier, Amsterdam (2000).
D. Scott, “Logic with denumerably long formulas and finite strings of quantifiers,” in The Theory of Models, J. Addison, L. Henkin, and A. Tarski (eds.), North-Holland, Amsterdam (1970), pp. 329-341.
H. J. Keisler, Model Theory for Infinitary Logic, North-Holland, Amsterdam (1971).
H. Rogers, Theory of Recursive Functions and Effective Computability, McGraw-Hill, New York (1967).
J. Harrison, “Recursive pseudo well-orderings,” Trans. Am. Math. Soc., 131, No. 2, 526-543 (1968).
G. E. Sacks, Higher Type Recursion Theory, Springer, Berlin (1990).
S. S. Goncharov, “Autostability and computable families of constructivizations,” Algebra Logika, 14, No. 6, 647-680 (1975).
S. S. Goncharov, “The quantity of non-autoequivalent constructivizations,” Algebra Logika, 16, No. 6, 257-282 (1977).
C. J. Ash, “Categoricity in hyperarithmetical degrees,” Ann. Pure Appl. Log., 34, No. 1, 1-14 (1987).
E. Lopez-Escobar, “An addition to 'On definable well-orderings',” Fund. Math., 59, No. 3, 299-300 (1966).
M. Morley, “Omitting classes of elements,” in The Theory of Models, M. Addison, L. Henkin, and A. Tarski (eds.), North-Holland, Amsterdam (1970), pp. 265-273.
D. R. Hirschfeldt, B. Khoussainov, R. A. Shore, and A. M. Slinco, “Degree spectra and computable dimensions in algebraic structures,” Preprint.
C. J. Ash and J. F. Knight, “Pairs of recursive structures,” Ann. Pure Appl. Log., 46, No. 3, 211-234 (1990).
C. J. Ash, C. G. Jockusch, and J. F. Knight, “Jumps of orderings,” Trans. Am. Math. Soc., 319, No. 2, 573-599 (1990).
C. J. Ash, “A construction for recursive linear orderings,” J. Symb. Log., 56, No. 2, 673-683 (1991).
C. J. Ash, “Recursive labelling systems and stability of recursive structures in hyperarithmetical degrees,” Trans. Am. Math. Soc., 298, No. 2, 497-514 (1986); Corrections: Ibid., 310, No. 2, 851 (1988).
A. T. Nurtazin, “Computable classes and algebraic criteria for autostability,” Ph.D. Thesis, Institute of Mathematics and Mechanics, Alma-Ata (1974).
C. G. Jockusch and R. I. Soare, “Degrees of orderings not isomorphic to recursive linear orderings,” Ann. Pure Appl. Log., 52, Nos. 1/2, 39-64 (1991).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Goncharov, S.S., Knight, J.F. Computable Structure and Non-Structure Theorems. Algebra and Logic 41, 351–373 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021758312697
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021758312697