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G-automata, counter languages and the Chomsky hierarchy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 May 2010

Murray Elder
Affiliation:
School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews, Scotland
C. M. Campbell
Affiliation:
University of St Andrews, Scotland
M. R. Quick
Affiliation:
University of St Andrews, Scotland
E. F. Robertson
Affiliation:
University of St Andrews, Scotland
G. C. Smith
Affiliation:
University of Bath
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Summary

Abstract

We consider how the languages of G-automata compare with other formal language classes. We prove that if the word problem of G is accepted by a machine in the class then the language of any G-automaton is in the class. It follows that the so called counter languages (languages of n-automata) are context-sensitive, and further that counter languages are indexed if and only if the word problem for n is indexed.

AMS Classification: 20F65, 20F10, 68Q45

Keywords: G-automaton; counter language; word problem for groups; Chomsky hierarchy

Introduction

In this article we compare the languages of G-automata, which include the set of counter languages, with the formal language classes of context-sensitive, indexed, context-free and regular. We prove in Theorem 6 that if the word problem of G is accepted by a machine in the class M then the language of any G-automaton is in the class M. It follows that the counter languages (languages of n-automata) are context-sensitive. Moreover it follows that counter languages are indexed if and only if the word problem for n is indexed.

The article is organized as follows. In Section 2 we define G-automata, linearly bounded automata, nested stack, stack, and pushdown automata, and the word problem for a finitely generated group. In Section 3 we prove the main theorem, and give the corollary that counter languages are indexed if and only if the word problem for ℤn is indexed for all n.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2007

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