A Behavioural Theory of Probabilistic Algorithms Using Probabilistic Abstract State Machines

Abstract

We motivate an axiomatic definition of probabilistic algorithms (PAs) by four postulates covering random branching time, abstract states, background, and random bounded exploration. Then, we introduce probabilistic Abstract State Machines (pASMs) and show that they specify PAs. Finally, we prove that every PA satisfying these postulates can be simulated step-by-step by a behaviourally equivalent pASM with the same signature and background.