EFFECTIVE RANDOMNESS FOR CONTINUOUS MEASURES

We investigate which infinite binary sequences (reals) are effectively random with respect to some continuous (i.e., non-atomic) probability measure. We prove that for every $n$, all but countably many reals are $n$-random for such a measure, where $n$ indicates the arithmetical complexity of the Martin-Löf tests allowed. The proof rests upon an application of Borel determinacy. Therefore, the proof presupposes the existence of infinitely many iterates of the power set of the natural numbers. In the second part of the paper we present a metamathematical analysis showing that this assumption is indeed necessary. More precisely, there exists a computable function $G$ such that, for any $n$, the statement ``All but countably many reals are $G(n)$-random with respect to a continuous probability measure'' cannot be proved in $\ZFC^-n$. Here $\ZFC^-n$ stands for Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory with the Axiom of Choice, where the Power Set Axiom is replaced by the existence of $n$-many iterates of the power set of the natural numbers. The proof of the latter fact rests on a very general obstruction to randomness, namely the presence of an internal definability structure.

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Work Title EFFECTIVE RANDOMNESS FOR CONTINUOUS MEASURES
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Open Access
Creators
  1. Jan Reimann
  2. Theodore A. Slaman
License CC BY 4.0 (Attribution)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. Journal of the American Mathematical Society
Publication Date January 1, 2022
Publisher Identifier (DOI)
  1. https://doi.org/10.1090/jams/980
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Deposited May 26, 2025

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Version 1
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  • Created
  • Updated
  • Added Creator Jan Reimann
  • Added Creator Theodore A. Slaman
  • Updated Work Title, Publisher, Publisher Identifier (DOI), and 2 more Show Changes
    Work Title
    • Effective randomness for continuous measures
    • EFFECTIVE RANDOMNESS FOR CONTINUOUS MEASURES
    Publisher
    • Journal of the American Mathematical Society
    Publisher Identifier (DOI)
    • https://doi.org/10.1090/jams/980
    Related URLs
    • https://arxiv.org/pdf/1808.10102
    Publication Date
    • 2022-01-01
  • Updated
  • Updated Description Show Changes
    Description
    • We investigate which infinite binary sequences (reals) are effectively random with respect to some continuous (i.e., non-atomic) probability measure. We prove that for every $n$, all but countably many reals are $n$-random for such a measure, where $n$ indicates the arithmetical complexity of the Martin-Löf tests allowed. The proof rests upon an application of Borel determinacy. Therefore, the proof presupposes the existence of infinitely many iterates of the power set of the natural numbers. In the second part of the paper we present a metamathematical analysis showing that this assumption is indeed necessary. More precisely, there exists a computable function $G$ such that, for any $n$, the statement ``All but countably many reals are $G(n)$-random with respect to a continuous probability measure'' cannot be proved in $\ZFC^-_n$. Here $\ZFC^-_n$ stands for Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory with the Axiom of Choice, where the Power Set Axiom is replaced by the existence of $n$-many iterates of the power set of
    • the natural numbers. The proof of the latter fact rests on a very general
    • obstruction to randomness, namely the presence of an internal definability structure.
  • Updated Creator Jan Reimann
  • Updated Creator Theodore A. Slaman
  • Added continuous_randomness_final_preprint.pdf
  • Updated License Show Changes
    License
    • https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
  • Published
  • Updated