Ordinal analysis

In proof theory, ordinal analysis assigns ordinals to mathematical theories as a measure of their strength.

Definition

All theories discussed are assumed to be recursive countable theories, and are assume to be powerful enough to make statements about the natural numbers.

The proof theoretic ordinal of a theory is the smallest recursive ordinal that the theory cannot prove is well founded. More accurately, the proof theoretic ordinal of the theory $T$ can be defined the supremum of all ordinals $\alpha$ for which there exists a notation $o$ in Kleene's sense such that $T$ proves that $o$ is, indeed, an ordinal notation; or equivalently, as the supremum of all ordinals $\alpha$ such that there exists a recursive relation $R$ on $\omega$ (the set of natural numbers) which well-orders it with ordinal $\alpha$ and such that $T$ proves transfinite induction of arithmetical statements for $R$.

The proof theoretic ordinal of a theory is a countable ordinal less than the Church-Kleene ordinal. It is in practice a good measure of the strength of a theory. If theories have the same proof theoretic ordinal they are often equiconsistent, and if one has a larger proof theoretic ordinal than another it can often prove the consistence of the second theory.

Examples

Theories with proof theoretic ordinal ω^ω

• ${\mathsf {RCA}}_{0}$, Recursive Comprehension has proof theoretic ordinal ω^ω.
• ${\mathsf {WKL}}_{0}$, Weak König's lemma has proof theoretic ordinal ω^ω.

Theories with proof theoretic ordinal ε₀

• Gentzen showed using cut elimination that the proof theoretic ordinal of Peano arithmetic is ε₀.
• ${\mathsf {ACA}}_{0}$, Arithmetical comprehension.

Theories with proof theoretic ordinal the Feferman-Schütte ordinal Γ₀

This ordinal is sometimes considered to be the upper limit for "predicative" theories.

• ${\mathsf {ATR}}_{0}$, Arithmetical Transfinite Recursion has proof theoretic ordinal the Feferman-Schütte ordinal Γ₀.

Theories with proof theoretic ordinal the Bachmann-Howard ordinal

• Kripke-Platek set theory

Theories with larger proof theoretic ordinals

Most theories capable of describing the power set of the natural numbers have prrof theoretic ordinals that are (as of 2008) too large to describe "explicitly". This includes second order arithmetic and all but the weakest set theories.

References

• Pohlers, W., Proof theory