The π-calculus as a theory in linear logic: Preliminary results

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Abstract

The agent expressions of the π-calculus can be translated into a theory of linear logic in such a way that the reflective and transitive closure of π-calculus (unlabeled) reduction is identified with “entailedby”. Under this translation, parallel composition is mapped to the multiplicative disjunct (“par”) and restriction is mapped to universal quantification. Prefixing, non-deterministic choice (+), replication (!), and the match guard are all represented using non-logical constants, which are specified using a simple form of axiom, called here a process clause. These process clauses resemble Horn clauses except that they may have multiple conclusions; that is, their heads may be the par of atomic formulas. Such multiple conclusion clauses are used to axiomatize communications among agents. Given this translation, it is nature to ask to what extent proof theory can be used to understand the meta-theory of the π-calculus. We present some preliminary results along this line for π0, the “propositional” fragment of the π-calculus, which lacks restriction and value passing (π0 is a subset of CCS). Using ideas from proof-theory, we introduce co-agents and show that they can specify some testing equivalences for π0. If negation-as-failure-to-prove is permitted as a co-agent combinator, then testing equivalence based on co-agents yields observational equivalence for π0. This latter result follows from observing that co-agents directly represent formulas in the Hennessy-Milner modal logic.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationExtensions of Logic Programming - 3rd International Workshop, ELP 1992, Proceedings
EditorsEvelina Lamina, Paola Mello
PublisherSpringer Verlag
Pages242-264
Number of pages23
ISBN (Print)9783540564546
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1993
Externally publishedYes
Event3rd International Workshop on Extensions of Logic Programming, ELP 1992 - Bologna, Italy
Duration: 26 Feb 199228 Feb 1992

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume660 LNAI
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Conference

Conference3rd International Workshop on Extensions of Logic Programming, ELP 1992
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityBologna
Period26/02/9228/02/92

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