Why Kolmogorov Complexity in Physical Equations

Authors

Vladik Kreinovich, The University of Texas at El PasoFollow
Luc Longpre, The University of Texas at El PasoFollow

Publication Date

12-1997

Comments

Technical Report: UTEP-CS-97-38

Published in International Journal of Theoretical Physics, 1998, Vol. 37, No. 11, pp. 2791-2801.

Abstract

Several researchers, including M. Gell-Mann, argue that the notion of Kolmogorov complexity, developed in the algorithmic information theory, is useful in physics (i.e., in the description of the physical world). Their arguments are rather convincing, but there seems to be a gap between traditional physical equations and Kolmogorov complexity: namely, it is not clear how the standard equations of physics can lead to algorithmic notions underlying Kolmogorov complexity. In this paper, this "gap" is bridged: we explain how Kolmogorov complexity naturally appear in physical equation.