The research presented in Aspects of Kolmogorov Complexity addresses the fundamental standard of defining randomness as measured by a Martin-Lof level of randomness as found in random sequential binary strings. A classical study of statistics that addresses both a fundamental standard of statistics as well as an applied measure for statistical communication theory. The research points to compression levels in a random state that are greater than is found in current literature. A historical overview of the field of Kolmogorov Complexity and Algorithmic Information Theory, a subfield of Information Theory, is given as well as examples using a radix 3, radix 4, and radix 5 base numbers for both random and non-random sequential strings. The text also examines monochromatic and chromatic symbols and both theoretical and applied aspects of data compression as they relate to the transmission and storage of information. The appendix contains papers on the subject given at conferences and the references are current.ContentsTechnical topics addressed in Aspects of Kolmogorov Complexity include:• Statistical Communication Theory• Algorithmic Information Theory• Kolmogorov Complexity• Martin-Lof Randomness• Compression, Transmission and Storage of Information

This must-read textbook presents an essential introduction to Kolmogorov complexity (KC), a central theory and powerful tool in information science that deals with the quantity of information in individual objects. The text covers both the fundamental concepts and the most important practical applications, supported by a wealth of didactic features. This thoroughly revised and enhanced fourth edition includes new and updated material on, amongst other topics, the Miller-Yu theorem, the Gács-Kučera theorem, the Day-Gács theorem, increasing randomness, short lists computable from an input string containing the incomputable Kolmogorov complexity of the input, the Lovász local lemma, sorting, the algorithmic full Slepian-Wolf theorem for individual strings, multiset normalized information distance and normalized web distance, and conditional universal distribution. Topics and features: describes the mathematical theory of KC, including the theories of algorithmic complexity and algorithmic probability; presents a general theory of inductive reasoning and its applications, and reviews the utility of the incompressibility method; covers the practical application of KC in great detail, including the normalized information distance (the similarity metric) and information diameter of multisets in phylogeny, language trees, music, heterogeneous files, and clustering; discusses the many applications of resource-bounded KC, and examines different physical theories from a KC point of view; includes numerous examples that elaborate the theory, and a range of exercises of varying difficulty (with solutions); offers explanatory asides on technical issues, and extensive historical sections; suggests structures for several one-semester courses in the preface. As the definitive textbook on Kolmogorov complexity, this comprehensive and self-contained work is an invaluable resource for advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and researchers in all fields of science.

Looking at a sequence of zeros and ones, we often feel that it is not random, that is, it is not plausible as an outcome of fair coin tossing. Why? The answer is provided by algorithmic information theory: because the sequence is compressible, that is, it has small complexity or, equivalently, can be produced by a short program. This idea, going back to Solomonoff, Kolmogorov, Chaitin, Levin, and others, is now the starting point of algorithmic information theory. The first part of this book is a textbook-style exposition of the basic notions of complexity and randomness; the second part covers some recent work done by participants of the “Kolmogorov seminar” in Moscow (started by Kolmogorov himself in the 1980s) and their colleagues. This book contains numerous exercises (embedded in the text) that will help readers to grasp the material.

The latest edition of this classic is updated with new problem sets and material The Second Edition of this fundamental textbook maintains the book's tradition of clear, thought-provoking instruction. Readers are provided once again with an instructive mix of mathematics, physics, statistics, and information theory. All the essential topics in information theory are covered in detail, including entropy, data compression, channel capacity, rate distortion, network information theory, and hypothesis testing. The authors provide readers with a solid understanding of the underlying theory and applications. Problem sets and a telegraphic summary at the end of each chapter further assist readers. The historical notes that follow each chapter recap the main points. The Second Edition features: * Chapters reorganized to improve teaching * 200 new problems * New material on source coding, portfolio theory, and feedback capacity * Updated references Now current and enhanced, the Second Edition of Elements of Information Theory remains the ideal textbook for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses in electrical engineering, statistics, and telecommunications.