On the formalisation of Kolmogorov complexity

Elliot Catt, Michael Norrish

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

    4 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Kolmogorov complexity is an essential tool in the study of algorithmic information theory, and is used in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, cryptography, and coding theory. The formalisation of the theorems of Kolmogorov complexity is also key to proving results in the theory of Intelligent Agents, specifically the results in Universal Artificial Intelligence. In this paper, we present a mechanisation of some of these fundamental results. In particular, building on HOL4's existing model of computability, we provide a formal definition of the complexity of a binary string, and then prove (i) that Kolmogorov complexity is uncomputable; (ii) the Kolmogorov Complexity invariance theorem; (iii) the Kraft and Kolmogorov-Kraft inequalities; and (iv) key Kolmogorov Complexity inequalities.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationCPP 2021 - Proceedings of the 10th ACM SIGPLAN International Conference on Certified Programs and Proofs, co-located with POPL 2021
    EditorsCatalin Hritcu, Andrei Popescu
    PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery (ACM)
    Pages291-299
    Number of pages9
    ISBN (Electronic)9781450382991
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 17 Jan 2021
    Event10th ACM SIGPLAN International Conference on Certified Programs and Proofs, CPP 2021, co-located with POPL 2021 - Virtual, Online, Denmark
    Duration: 17 Jan 202119 Jan 2021

    Publication series

    NameCPP 2021 - Proceedings of the 10th ACM SIGPLAN International Conference on Certified Programs and Proofs, co-located with POPL 2021

    Conference

    Conference10th ACM SIGPLAN International Conference on Certified Programs and Proofs, CPP 2021, co-located with POPL 2021
    Country/TerritoryDenmark
    CityVirtual, Online
    Period17/01/2119/01/21

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