A Thread Calculus with Molecular Dynamics

Abstract

In a previous paper, we developed an algebraic theory of threads, interleaving of threads, and interaction between threads and services. In the current paper, we extend that theory with features of molecular dynamics, a model of computation suitable for object-based programs. In this model, threads interact with a service of which the states resemble collections of molecules composed of atoms and com- putations take place by means of actions which transform the struc- ture of molecules like in chemical reactions. The features introduced in- clude a feature to restrict the scope of names used in threads to refer to molecules. Because that feature makes it troublesome to provide a structural operational semantics, we construct a projective limit model for the extended theory.