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Fidelity is one of the most widely used quantities in quantum information that measures the distance of two quantum states through a noisy channel, a kind of quantum operations. In this paper, we consider the model of quantum Markov chain (QMC), in which transitions are weighted by super-operators to characterize quantum operations and the initial quantum state is left parametric. A quantum analogy of probabilistic computation tree logic, called QCTL, is introduced to take into account fidelity, instead of probability measure, over QMC. The key to the model checking problem lies in computing the fidelity of the super-operator valued measure specified by a path formula in QCTL. It is minimized over all initial quantum states, which is intended for analyzing the system performance in the worst case. We achieve it by a reduction to quantifier elimination in the existential theory of the reals. The method is absolutely exact, so that model checking QCTL formulas against QMCs is proved to be decidable in exponential time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A set of theories is presented over multi-matching nested relations, including words, expressions and automata. • A new temporal logic of multi-matching nested calls and returns (MNCARET) is proposed. • An approach to model check MNCARET formulas for the MNTA model is presented. Multi-matching nested relation consists of a sequence of linearly ordered positions, call , internal , and return , augmented with one-to-one, one-to-n or n-to-one matching nested edges from call to return. For clarity, inner-call and inner-return are defined in n-to-one and one-to-n matching nested relations respectively. After word encoding by introducing tagged letters, Multi-matching Nested Words (MNWs) are obtained over a tagged alphabet. Then Multi-matching Nested Expression (MNE) and Multi-matching Nested Traceable Automaton (MNTA) are defined over MNWs. The closure properties of languages over MNWs are studied, including union, intersection, concatenation, Kleene-* and complementation. Moreover, nondeterministic MNTAs are as expressive as deterministic ones. Further, a transformation method from MNTAs to MNEs is proposed, where three kinds of labeled arcs are created for different transitions in order for the specific merging strategies. To specify the requirements of multi-matching nested calls and returns , we propose a temporal logic of Multi-matching Nested CAlls and RETurns (MNCARET). The abstract and matched-abstract versions of modalities are considered. For example, abstract-next operator allows a path to jump from a call to the first matched non- internal , which is the inner-call , inner-return or return , in a one-to-n or n-to-one matching relation while matched-abstract-next operator from a call directly to the matched return. We also present an approach to model check MNCARET formulas for the MNTA model, a subset of pushdown automata. This problem is reduced to the emptiness problem of Büchi MNTAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decades much research effort has been devoted to extending the success of model checking from the traditional field of finite state machines and various versions of temporal logics to suitable subclasses of context-free languages and appropriate extensions of temporal logics. To the best of our knowledge such attempts only covered structured languages , i.e. languages whose structure is immediately "visible" in their sentences, such as tree-languages or visibly pushdown ones. In this paper we present a new temporal logic suitable to express and automatically verify properties of operator precedence languages. This "historical" language family has been recently proved to enjoy fundamental algebraic and logic properties that make it suitable for model checking applications yet breaking the barrier of visible-structure languages (in fact the original motivation of its inventor Floyd was just to support efficient parsing , i.e. building the "hidden syntax tree" of language sentences). We prove that our logic is at least as expressive as analogous logics defined for visible pushdown languages yet covering a much more powerful family; we design a procedure that, given a formula in our logic builds an automaton recognizing the sentences satisfying the formula, whose size is at most exponential in the length of the formula. Our results cover both finite and infinite string languages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the problem of verifying heap evolution properties of pointer programs. To this end, a new unified model checking approach with MSVL (Modeling, Simulation and Verification Language) and PPTLSL is presented. The former is an executable subset of PTL (Projection Temporal Logic) while the latter is an extension of PPTL (Propositional Projection Temporal Logic) with separation logic. MSVL is used to model pointer programs, and PPTLSL to specify heap evolution properties. Technically, on one hand, models of MSVL programs are characterized by Normal Form Graphs (NFGs). On the other hand, PPTLSL is equisatisfiably reduced to its subset which can reuse the decision procedure of PPTL. Our technique is able to deal with a variety of pointer structures such as linked lists and composite structures. In addition, we implement a prototype tool by using an SMT solver as the verification engine in order to demonstrate our approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces Graded Computation Tree Logic with finite path semantics (GCTL f ⁎ , for short), a variant of Computation Tree Logic CTL⁎, in which path quantifiers are interpreted over finite paths and can count the number of such paths. State formulas of GCTL f ⁎ are interpreted over Kripke structures. The syntax of GCTL f ⁎ has path quantifiers of the form E ≥ g ψ which express that there are at least g many distinct finite paths that satisfy ψ. After defining and justifying the logic GCTL f ⁎ , we solve its model checking problem and establish that its computational complexity is PSPACE-complete. Moreover, we investigate GCTL f ⁎ under the imperfect information setting. Precisely, we introduce GCTLK f ⁎ , an epistemic extension of GCTL f ⁎ and prove that the model checking problem also in this case is PSPACE-complete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the model checking problem of pushdown systems for projection temporal logic (PTL), an interval-based temporal logic that is as expressive as the full regular languages. For this, we provide an algorithm to decide whether a pushdown system, determined by a pushdown automaton, satisfies a desired logic property, by using relevant automata notations and operations. The algorithm terminates in exponential time for normal PTL properties, i.e. properties specified as normal PTL formulas. To show the lower bound of complexity of the model checking problem, we also construct a polynomial-time reduction from the acceptance problem of a linearly bounded alternating Turing machine. As a result, the model checking problem of pushdown systems for normal PTL properties is EXPTIME-complete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To specify properties of open systems with interval based temporal logics, Alternating Projection Temporal Logic (APTL) is proposed by introducing Concurrent Game Structures (CGS) to Propositional Projection Temporal Logic (PPTL). Further, examples are given to show how properties of open systems can be specified by APTL formulas. Moreover, to establish the automata based model theory for the new proposed logic, Generalized alternating Büchi automata over Concurrent Game structures (GBCGs) are defined, and a transformation from APTL formulas to GBCGs is presented. In addition, a decision procedure for checking the satisfiability of APTL formulas, and a model checking approach for APTL with Concurrent Game Structures (CGSs) being models are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there have been many works on bounded semantics, a characterization of a good definition for a bounded semantics has not been given, and this has led to definitions of bounded semantics of temporal logics that may not be appropriate with respect to the potential usefulness as a basis for developing bounded model checking approaches. On the other side, the research effort on bounded semantics has mainly focused on existentially interpreted fragments of temporal logics, due to the intricacy of defining appropriate bounded semantics for universally interpreted fragments, or for temporal logics with path quantifiers that are closed under negation. This work addresses these two problems, by defining the characteristics of bounded semantics for clarifying the concept of bounded semantics, and presenting a bounded semantics for the full set of CTL, a logic closed under negation, including possibility for specifying both existential and universal properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Certain behavioral properties of distributed systems are difficult to express in interleaving semantics, whereas they are naturally expressed in terms of partial orders of events or, equivalently, Mazurkiewicz traces. Two examples of such properties are serializability of a database and global snapshots of concurrent systems. Recently, a modest extension for LTL by an operator that expresses snapshots, has been proposed. It combines the ease of linear (interleaving) specification with this useful partial order concept. The new construct allows one to assert that a global snapshot appeared in the past, perhaps not in the observed execution sequence, but possibly in an equivalent one. Originally, a model checking algorithm for this logic that is exponential space in the size of the system was suggested. In this paper, we provide a model checking algorithm that is in polynomial space in the size of the system. Our construction can also serve as an efficient (polynomial) algorithm for detecting conjunctive properties (i.e., conjunction of local process properties) in a concurrent history of execution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We consider model checking of timed temporal formulae in durational transition graphs (DTGs), i.e., Kripke structures where transitions have integer durations. Two semantics for DTGs are presented and motivated. We consider timed versions of where subscripts put quantitative constraints on the time it takes before a property is satisfied. We exhibit an important gap between logics where subscripts of the form “” (exact duration) are allowed, and simpler logics that only allow subscripts of the form “” or “” (bounded duration). Without exact durations, model checking can be done in polynomial time, but with exact durations, it becomes -complete or -complete depending on the considered semantics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper aims at applying the 1 [1] Computation Tree Logic. model checking method to the time Petri net (TPN) model. We show here how to contract its generally infinite state space into a graph that captures all its properties. This graph, called atomic state class graph (ASCG), is finite if and only if, the model is bounded. 2 [2] The number of its reachable markings is finite. Our approach is based on a partition refinement technique, similarly to what is proposed in [Berthomieu, Vernadat, State class constructions for branching analysis of time Petri nets, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 2619, 2003; Yoneda, Ryuba, CTL model checking of time Petri nets using geometric regions, IEICE Trans. Inf. Syst. E99-D(3) (1998)]. In such a technique, an intermediate abstraction (contraction) of the TPN state space is first built, then refined until properties are restored. Our approach improves the construction of the ASCG in two ways. The first way deals with speeding up the refinement process by using a much more compact intermediate contraction of the TPN state space than those used in [Berthomieu, Vernadat, State class constructions for branching analysis of time Petri nets, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 2619, 2003; Yoneda, Ryuba, CTL model checking of time Petri nets using geometric regions, IEICE Trans. Inf. Syst. E99-D(3) (1998)]. The second way deals with computing each ASCG node in instead of , being the number of transitions enabled at the node. Experimental results have shown that our improvements have a good impact on performances. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We define a new class of games, called backtracking games. Backtracking games are essentially parity games with an additional rule allowing players, under certain conditions, to return to an earlier position in the play and revise a choice or to force a countback of the number of moves. This new feature makes backtracking games more powerful than parity games. As a consequence, winning strategies become more complex objects and computationally harder. The corresponding increase in expressiveness allows us to use backtracking games as model-checking games for inflationary fixed-point logics such as IFP or MIC. We identify a natural subclass of backtracking games, the simple games, and show that these are the “right” model-checking games for IFP by (a) giving a translation of formulae and structures into simple games such that if, and only if, Player 0 wins the corresponding game and (b) showing that the winner of simple backtracking games can again be defined in IFP. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Temporal logic is two-valued: formulas are interpreted as either true or false. When applied to the analysis of stochastic systems, or systems with imprecise formal models, temporal logic is therefore fragile: even small changes in the model can lead to opposite truth values for a specification. We present a generalization of the branching-time logic CTL which achieves robustness with respect to model perturbations by giving a quantitative interpretation to predicates and logical operators, and by discounting the importance of events according to how late they occur. In every state, the value of a formula is a real number in the interval [0,1], where 1 corresponds to truth and 0 to falsehood. The boolean operators and and or are replaced by min and max, the path quantifiers and determine sup and inf over all paths from a given state, and the temporal operators and specify sup and inf over a given path; a new operator averages all values along a path. Furthermore, all path operators are discounted by a parameter that can be chosen to give more weight to states that are closer to the beginning of the path. We interpret the resulting logic DCTL over transition systems, Markov chains, and Markov decision processes. We present two semantics for DCTL: a path semantics, inspired by the standard interpretation of state and path formulas in CTL, and a fixpoint semantics, inspired by the -calculus evaluation of CTL formulas. We show that, while these semantics coincide for CTL, they differ for DCTL, and we provide model-checking algorithms for both semantics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]