Limit, logic, and computation.
We introduce "ultrafilter limits" into the classical Turing model of computation and develop a paradigm for interpreting the problem of distinguishing the class P from NP as a logical problem of decidability. We use P(NP) to denote decision problems which can be solved on a (nondeterministic) Turing machine in polynomial time. The concept is that in an appropriate limit it may be possible to prove that problems in P are still decidable, so a problem whose limit is undecidable would be established as lying outside of P.
Freedman
M H
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Microsoft Research 9N, 1 Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 48052, USA.