Causal dependencies in multiplicative linear logic with MIX

Abstract

A new correctness criterion for discriminating Proof Nets among Proof Structures of Multiplicative Linear Logic with the MIX rule is provided. This criterion is inspired by an original interpretation of Proof Structures as distributed systems, and logical formulae as processes. The computation inside a system corresponds to the logical flow of information inside a proof, that is, roughly speaking, a distributed version of Girard's token trip. Proof Nets are then characterised as deadlock free Proof Structures (deadlock free distributed systems). This result follows by explicitly considering the causal dependencies among logical formulae inside proofs, and it provides a new understanding of notions such as acyclicity, chains and empires in terms of concurrent computations.