Realizability Semantics of Parametric Polymorphism, General References, and Recursive Types

Abstract. We present a realizability model for a call-by-value, higherorder programming language with parametric polymorphism, general first-class references, and recursive types. The main novelty is a relational interpretation of open types (as needed for parametricity reasoning) that include general reference types. The interpretation uses a new approach to modeling references. The universe of semantic types consists of world-indexed families of logical relations over a universal predomain. In order to model general reference types, worlds are finite maps from locations to semantic types: this introduces a circularity between semantic types and worlds that precludes a direct definition of either. Our solution is to solve a recursive equation in an appropriate category of metric spaces. In effect, types are interpreted using a Kripke logical relation over a recursively defined set of worlds. We illustrate how the model can be used to prove simple equivalences different implement...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2009
• Where: FOSSACS
• Authors: Lars Birkedal, Kristian Støvring, Jacob Thamsborg
• Keywords: Applied Computing, FOSSACS 2009, General Reference Types, Recursive Types, Semantic Types