A simple and efficient universal reversible Turing machine

Holger Bock Axelsen, Robert Glück

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We construct a universal reversible Turing machine (URTM) from first principles. We take a strict approach to the semantics of reversible Turing machines (RTMs), under which they can compute exactly all injective, computable functions, but not non-injective ones. The natural notion of universality for RTMs is RTM-universality, where programs are considered part of both input and output of a URTM. The machine described here is the first URTM which does not depend on reversibilizing any existing universal machine. The interpretive overhead of the URTM is limited to a (program dependent) constant factor slowdown, with no other complexity-wise cost wrt time and space. The URTM is also able to function as an inverse interpreter for RTMs at no asymptotic cost, simply by reversing the string representing the interpreted machine.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationLanguage and Automata Theory and Applications : 5th International Conference, LATA 2011, Tarragona, Spain, May 26-31, 2011. Proceedings
EditorsAdrian-Horia Dediu, Shunsuke Inenaga, Carlos Martín-Vide
Number of pages12
PublisherSpringer
Publication date2011
Pages117-128
ISBN (Print)978-3-642-21253-6
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-642-21254-3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011
Event5th International Conference on Language and Automata Theory and Applications - Tarragona, Spain
Duration: 26 May 201131 May 2011
Conference number: 5

Conference

Conference5th International Conference on Language and Automata Theory and Applications
Number5
Country/TerritorySpain
CityTarragona
Period26/05/201131/05/2011
SeriesLecture notes in computer science
Volume6638
ISSN0302-9743

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