English

Lambda Calculus and Probabilistic Computation

Logic in Computer Science 2019-05-13 v5

Abstract

We introduce two extensions of the λ\lambda-calculus with a probabilistic choice operator, Λcbv\Lambda_\oplus^{cbv} and Λcbn\Lambda_\oplus^{cbn}, modeling respectively call-by-value and call-by-name probabilistic computation. We prove that both enjoys confluence and standardization, in an extended way: we revisit these two fundamental notions to take into account the asymptotic behaviour of terms. The common root of the two calculi is a further calculus based on Linear Logic, Λ!\Lambda_\oplus^!, which allows for a fine control of the interaction between choice and copying, and which allows us to develop a unified, modular approach.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1901.02853,
  title  = {Lambda Calculus and Probabilistic Computation},
  author = {Claudia Faggian and Simona Ronchi della Rocca},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1901.02853},
  year   = {2019}
}

Comments

Extended version of the paper in LICS 2019