Back to results

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Abstract Complexity Theory and the Degrees of Unsolvability

Abstract

dc:description

We focus on the A° sets and show that abstract complexity theory can be applied to the degrees of unsolvability simply by relativizing the notion of a complexity measure to 0'. Since the Gap Theorem holds in our context, we need to develop the concept of a A° honest function just as one needs to define honest functions in computational complexity theory. These functions turn out to be the appropriate complexity bounds, and the concept enables us to prove general hierarchy results for A° sets. Since we must often deal with noncomputable complexity bounds, we develop a hierarchy of A° functions, the compositon hierarchy, to classify those functions that have relatively simple computable approximations. The degrees in L2 have especially pleasant complexity theoretic properties, and w ithin this context we use the composition hierarchy to formulate and prove hierarchy results for c.e. degrees, generic degrees, and a n c degrees. Furthermore, the degrees in $ {L\sb1}.$and those in $ {L\sb2}.$ — $ {L\sb1}.$are seen to have m any complexity theoretic properties in common. In addition, we develop several variations on the standard notions of genericity, including one, semigenericity, that can be satisfied by sets in $\overline{L\sb1}.$ Finally, we prove results indicating how complexity theoretic considerations can lead to structural consequences in the degrees.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Ph.D.
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Mathematics
Grantor
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Year dc:date
2015

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Schaeffer, Benjamin James
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Carl Jockusch, Jr

Subjects

dc:subject × 1

Rights

Language dc:language
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Identifier
(MiAaPQ)AAI9834765
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/86960

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
Base URL
www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Schaeffer, Benjamin James. Abstract Complexity Theory and the Degrees of Unsolvability. Dissertation thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2142/86960