Classical Recursion Theory, Volume II: Volume 143(Volume 143 Studies in Logic and the Foundations of Mathematics)

Volume II of Classical Recursion Theory describes the universe from a local (bottom-up or synthetical) point of view, and covers the whole spectrum, from the recursive to the arithmetical sets. The first half of the book provides a detailed picture of the computable sets from the perspective of Theoretical Computer Science. Besides giving a detailed description of the theories of abstract Complexity Theory and of Inductive Inference, it contributes a uniform picture of the most basic complexity classes, ranging from small time and space bounds to the elementary functions, with a particular attention to polynomial time and space computability. It also deals with primitive recursive functions and larger classes, which are of interest to the proof theorist. The second half of the book starts with the classical theory of recursively enumerable sets and degrees, which constitutes the core of Recursion or Computability Theory. Unlike other texts, usually confined to the Turing degrees, the book covers a variety of other strong reducibilities, studying both their individual structures and their mutual relationships.The last chapters extend the theory to limit sets and arithmetical sets. The volume ends with the first textbook treatment of the enumeration degrees, which admit a number of applications from algebra to the Lambda Calculus. The book is a valuable source of information for anyone interested in Complexity and Computability Theory. The student will appreciate the detailed but informal account of a wide variety of basic topics, while the specialist will find a wealth of material sketched in exercises and asides. A massive bibliography of more than a thousand titles completes the treatment on the historical side.

Table of Contents:
Preface. Introduction. Theories of Recursive functions. Hierarchies of recursive functions. Recursively enumerable sets. Recursively enumerable degrees. Limit sets. Arithmetical sets. Arithmetical degrees. Enumeration degrees. Bibliography. Notation index. Subject index.

Review :
"The scope of the material is amazing. For instance, I can think of no other book with a treatment of w-REA sets inductive reference, and models of lambda calculus! This is especially gratifying in a world of continuing mathematical fragmentation." --Mathematical Reviews