The biinterpretability conjecture for the r.e. degrees asks whether, for each sufficiently large k, the # k relations on the r.e. degrees are uniformly definable from parameters. We solve a weaker version: for each k >= 7, the k relations bounded from below by a nonzero degree are uniformly definable. As applications, we show that...

Consider the countable semilattice RT consisting of the recursively enumerable Turing degrees. Although RT is known to be structurally rich, a major source of frustration is that no specific, natural degrees in RT have been discovered, except the bottom and top degrees, 0 and 0 ′. In order to overcome this difficulty, we embed RT into a larger degree structure which is better behaved. Namely, consider the countable distributive lattice Pw consisting of the weak degrees (also known as Muchnik degrees) of mass problems associated with non-empty Π 0 1 subsets of 2ω. It is known that Pw contains a bottom degree 0 and a top degree 1 and is structurally rich. Moreover, Pw contains many specific, natural degrees other than 0 and 1. In particular, we show that in Pw one has 0 < d < r1 < inf(r2, 1) < 1. Here, d is the weak degree of the diagonally non-recursive functions, and rn is the weak degree of the n-random reals. It is known that r1 can be characterized as the maximum weak degree ofaΠ 0 1 subset of 2ω of positive measure. We now show that inf(r2, 1) can be characterized as the maximum weak degree of a Π 0 1 subset of 2ω, the Turing upward closure of which is of positive measure. We exhibit a natural embedding of RT into Pw which is one-to-one, preserves the semilattice structure of RT, carries 0 to 0, and carries 0 ′ to 1. Identifying RT with its image in Pw, we show that all of the degrees in RT except 0 and 1 are incomparable with the specific degrees d, r1, and inf(r2, 1) inPw. 1.

This paper is an expanded version of an part of a series of invited lectures given by the author during May 1995 in Siena, Italy to the COLORET II conference. This work is partially supported by Victoria University IGC and the Marsden Fund for Basic Science under grant VIC-509. This paper is dedicated to the memory of my friend and teacher Chris Ash who contributed so much to effective structure theory and who left us far too young early in 1995

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Abstract. We show the undecidability of the Π3-theory of the partial order of computably enumerable Turing degrees. Recursively enumerable (henceforth called computably enumerable) sets arise naturally in many areas of mathematics, for instance in the study of elementary theories, as solution sets of polynomials or as the word problems of finitely generated subgroups of finitely presented groups. Putting the computably enumerable sets

$1. Introduction. The occasion of a retiring presidential address seems like a time to look back, take stock and perhaps look ahead.

We describe the important role that the conjectures and questions posed at the end of the two editions of Gerald Sacks's Degrees of Unsolvability have had in the development of recursion theory over the past thirty years. Gerald Sacks has had a major influence on the development of logic, particularly recursion theory, over the past thirty years through his research, writing and teaching. Here, I would like to concentrate on just one instance of that influence that I feel has been of special significance to the study of the degrees of unsolvability in general and on my own work in particular--- the conjectures and questions posed at the end of the two editions of Sacks's first book, the classic monograph Degrees of Unsolvability (Annals

Abstract The three quantifier theory of (R; ^T), the recursively enumerable degrees under Turing reducibility, was proven undecidable by Lempp, Nies and Slaman [1998]. The two quantifier theory includes the lattice embedding problem and its decidability is a long standing open question. A negative solution to this problem seems out of reach of the standard methods of interpretation of theories because the language is relational. We prove the undecidability of a fragment of the theory of R that lies between the two and three quantifier theories with ^T but includes function symbols.

The Major Sub-degree Problem of A. H. Lachlan (first posed in 1967) has become a long-standing open question concerning the structure of the computably enumerable (c.e.) degrees. Its solution has important implications for Turing definability and for the ongoing programme of fully characterising the theory of the c.e. Turing degrees. A c.e. degree a is a major subdegree of a c.e. degree b> a if for any c.e. degree x, 0 ′ = b ∨ x if and only if 0 ′ = a ∨ x. In this paper, we show that every c.e. degree b ̸ = 0 or 0 ′ has a major sub-degree, answering Lachlan’s question affirmatively. 1

It is shown that there exists a low 2 Harrington non-splitting base --- that is, a low 2 computably enumerable (c.e.) degree a such that for any c.e. degrees x, y, if 0 # = x # y, then either 0 # = x # a or 0 # = y # a. Contrary to prior expectations, the standard Harrington non-splitting construction is incompatible with the low 2 -ness requirements to be satisfied, and the proof given involves new techniques with potentially wider application. 1