Introduction to Coalgebra: Towards Mathematics of States and Observation

by Bart Jacobs

Overview

The area of coalgebra has emerged within theoretical computer science with a unifying claim: to be the mathematics of computational dynamics. It combines ideas from the theory of dynamical systems and from the theory of state-based computation. Although still in its infancy, it is an active area of research that generates wide interest. Written by one of the founders of the field, this book acts as the first mature and accessible introduction to coalgebra. It provides clear mathematical explanations, with many examples and exercises involving deterministic and non-deterministic automata, transition systems, streams, Markov chains and weighted automata. The theory is expressed in the language of category theory, which provides the right abstraction to make the similarity and duality between algebra and coalgebra explicit, and which the reader is introduced to in a hands-on manner. The book will be useful to mathematicians and (theoretical) computer scientists and will also be of interest to mathematical physicists, biologists and economists.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781107177895
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	10/27/2016
Series:	Cambridge Tracts in Theoretical Computer Science , #59
Pages:	494
Product dimensions:	6.26(w) x 9.25(h) x 1.26(d)

About the Author

Bart Jacobs is Professor of Software and Security Correctness at Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands. His work has been supported by prestigious grants such as the Pionier grant from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research and the Advanced Investigator Grant from the European Research Council. Professor Jacobs is a member of Academia Europaea.

Table of Contents

1. Motivation; 2. Coalgebras of polynomial functors; 3. Bisimulations; 4. Logic, lifting and finality; 5. Monads, comonads and distributive laws; 6. Invariants and assertions; References; Definition and symbol index; Subject index.

Editorial Reviews

'The book is very carefully written, its many examples are discussed usually in great detail, expressing patiently the salient features to be exhibited. This applies to the usually fairly detailed proofs as well. Another treasure trove is the collection of most instructive exercises, of which there are plenty … This admirable book sets the standard for the work on set-based coalgebras for many years to come. It can be used for reference, and it is equally usable as a textbook.' Ernst-Erich Doberkat, Zentralblatt MATH

From the Publisher