From proofs to focused proofs: A modular proof of focalization in linear logic

Dale Miller, Alexis Saurin

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Probably the most significant result concerning cut-free sequent calculus proofs in linear logic is the completeness of focused proofs. This completeness theorem has a number of proof theoretic applications - e.g. in game semantics, Ludics, and proof search -and more computer science applications - e.g. logic programming, call-by-name/value evaluation. Andreoli proved this theorem for first-order linear logic 15 years ago. In the present paper, we give a new proof of the completeness of focused proofs in terms of proof transformation. The proof of this theorem is simple and modular: it is first proved for MALL and then is extended to full linear logic. Given its modular structure, we show how the proof can be extended to larger systems, such as logics with induction. Our analysis of focused proofs will employ a proof transformation method that leads us to study how focusing and cut elimination interact. A key component of our proof is the construction of a focalization graph which provides an abstraction over how focusing can be organized within a given cut-free proof. Using this graph abstraction allows us to provide a detailed study of atomic bias assignment in a way more refined that is given in Andreoli's original proof. Permitting more flexible assignment of bias will allow this completeness theorem to help establish the completeness of a number of other automated deduction procedures. Focalization graphs can be used to justify the introduction of an inference rule for multifocus derivation: a rule that should help us better understand the relations between sequentiality and concurrency in linear logic.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationComputer Science Logic - 21st International Workshop, CSL 2007 and 16th Annual Conference of the EACSL, Proceedings
PublisherSpringer Verlag
Pages405-419
Number of pages15
ISBN (Print)9783540749141
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2007
Event21st International Workshop on Computer Science Logic, CSL 2007 and 16th Annual Conference of the European Association for Computer Science Logic, EACSL - Lausanne, Switzerland
Duration: 11 Sept 200715 Sept 2007

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume4646 LNCS
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Conference

Conference21st International Workshop on Computer Science Logic, CSL 2007 and 16th Annual Conference of the European Association for Computer Science Logic, EACSL
Country/TerritorySwitzerland
CityLausanne
Period11/09/0715/09/07

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