Abstract. We prove that every rational language of words indexed by linear orderings is definable in monadic second-order logic. We also show that the converse is true for the class of languages indexed by countable scattered linear orderings, but false in the general case. As a corollary we prove that the inclusion problem for rational languages of words indexed by countable linear orderings is decidable.

Abstract. We prove that every rational language of words indexed by linear orderings is definable in monadic second-order logic. We also show that the converse is true for the class of languages indexed by countable scattered linear orderings, but false in the general case. As a corollary we prove that the inclusion problem for rational languages of words indexed by countable linear orderings is decidable.

In a preceding paper (Bruyère and Carton, automata on linear orderings, MFCS'01), automata have been introduced for words indexed by linear orderings. These automata are a generalization of automata for finite, infinite, bi-infinite and even transfinite words studied by Büchi. Kleene's theorem has been generalized to these words. We prove that rational sets of words on countable scattered linear orderings are closed under complementation using an algebraic approach.

International audienc

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