The infinitary lambda calculus of the infinite eta Böhm trees

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce a strong form of eta reduction called etabang that we use to construct a confluent and normalising infinitary lambda calculus, of which the normal forms correspond to Barendregt's infinite eta Böhm trees. This new infinitary perspective on the set of infinite eta Böhm trees allows us to prove that the set of infinite eta Böhm trees is a model of the lambda calculus. The model is of interest because it has the same local structure as Scott's D∞-models, i.e. two finite lambda terms are equal in the infinite eta Böhm model if and only if they have the same interpretation in Scott's D∞-models.