Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Many natural program correctness properties can be stated in terms of symmetries, but existing formal methods have little support for reasoning about such properties. We consider how to formally verify a broad class of symmetry properties expressed in terms of group actions. To specify these properties, we design a syntax for group actions, supporting standard constructions and a natural notion of entailment. Then, we develop a Hoare-style logic for verifying symmetry properties of imperative programs, where group actions take the place of the typical pre- and post-condition assertions. Finally, we develop a prototype tool SymVerif, and use it to verify symmetry properties on a series of handcrafted benchmarks. Our tool uncovered an error in a model of a dynamical system described by McLachlan and Quispel [Acta Numerica 2002].
DOI: 10.1145/3763080
Authors: Vaibhav Mehta, Justin Hsu
Institution: Cornell University
Language: English
Subfield: Artificial Intelligence
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Funder: University of Texas at Austin
OpenAlex ID: W4414978587