nLab bisimulation

Definition

In set theory

Let $S$ be a set equipped with a binary relation $\prec$. Then a bisimulation is a binary relation $\sim$ such that for all $x \in S$ and $y \in S$ such that $x \sim y$, the following conditions hold:

• for all $a \in S$ such that $a \prec x$, there exists a $b \in S$ such that $b \prec y$ and $a \sim b$
• for all $b \in S$ such that $b \prec y$, there exists a $a \in S$ such that $a \prec x$ and $a \sim b$

In category theory

In Joyal-Nielsen-Winskel (p.13) is given the following definition. For what a “path category in a category of models” is, see there.

Definition

Let $P$ be a path category in a category of models $M$. Two objects $X_1,X_2$ are called to be $P$-bisimilar if there is a span of $P$-open maps $X_1\leftarrow X\to X_2$.

The relation of $P$-open maps and open maps is given by Proposition 11, p.32:

Proposition

If $P$ is a dense full subcategory of $M$, then $f$-is $P$-open iff $M(-,f)$ is an open map.

See also

• simulation

• extensional relation

• transition system

• cotopos

• coinduction

References

• Wikipedia (English), Bisimulation
• Peter Aczel; Non-Well-Founded Sets, especially Chapter 4.
• Sam Staton, Relating coalgebraic notions of bisimulation
• Davide Sangiorgi, On the Origins of Bisimulation and Coinduction
• André Joyal, Mogens Nielsen, Glynn Winskel, Bisimulation from open maps, pdf
• Bard Bloom, Sorin Istrail, Albert Meyer, Bisimulation can’t be traced, pdf
• Yde Venema, Algebras and Coalgebras, §6 (p.332-426).11(p.398-403) in Blackburn, van Benthem, Wolter, Handbook of modal logic, Elsevier, 2007.
• Pedro Resende, Quantales, finite observations and strong bisimulation, Theor. Comp. Sci. 254:1–2 (2001) 95–149, doi