The Noble Art of Linear Decorating
Harold Schellinx

Abstract:
Linear logic (Girard, 1987) is a refinement of the formulation of classical 
logic as a sequent calculus (Gentzen, 1935). The `intervention' is simple: 
in the `classical' formulation a formula, present as a hypothesis in a 
derivation, can be used an unlimited number of times, and any formula can 
be introduced as a hypothesis, even it is not used. Furthermore, deriving 
a theorem a number of times is equivalent to deriving it only once, and 
whenever a certain conclusion has been reached, say $X$, it is possible to 
add another one, say $Y$ (as in `$X$ or $Y$').

In the linear formulation this kind of practice is restricted. Contraction
and weakening are only allowed if the formula in question is marked with
a modality. This in turn leads to the introduction of two variants
of familiar logical connectives: an {\em additive} and a {\em multiplicative} 
variant.

If linear typing is ignored, a derivation in classical logic is nothing but
a derivation in classical or intuitionistic logic. 
Schellinx main  question is the following: Take some derivation $\pi$ in
sequent calculus for classical or intuitionistic logic. Can we transform it into
a sequent derivation in linear logic in a way that essentially preserves
its structure, i.e. can we define a {\em linear decoration} of the original
proof? And if `yes', then is there an {\em optimal} way to do this?
Schellinx  shows, for example, that for some fragments, for instance that 
consisting of  rules for implication, universal first order quantification, 
and universal second order (propositional) quantification, this linear 
decorating is completely {\em deterministic}.

Schellinx main concern is with {\em mappings}: from formulas to linear
formulas, from classical and intuitionistic proofs to linear proofs, from
classical (intuitionistic) proofs to classical (intuitionistic) proof, and 
from linear proofs to linear proofs, mappings that in most cases will 
preserve, at least, what he calls the {\em skeleton} of the original, in the
case `linear to linear' moreover its {\em dynamics} (i.e. behaviour under 
cut elimination)

Schellinx introduces  a number of technical devices for these purposes. 
In chapter 5 the {\em exponential graph} of a derivation is
introduced. This graph permits the characterization of those derivations in
linear logic that are {\em dilatable}, that is, derivations in which
{\em all} modalized formulas can be replaced by non-model formulas, withou
changing the structure and the dynamics of the original. The most important
result is that a fully expanded linear derivation is dilatable iff her
exponential graph is acyclic.

In chapter 6, the notion {\em constrictive morphism} is introduced, which
can be used to optimalize modal translations. This leads to well--defined
restrictions on rules of the sequent calculus, that maintain completeness
with respect to provability. Schellinx formulates `alternative' 
sequent calculi for intuitionistic and classical logic for which the 
optimal modal translations are decorated: {\bf ILU}, {\bf LKT} 
and {\bf LKQ}.