Diagonalizations over polynomial time computable sets

Abstract

A formal notion of diagonalization is developed which allows to enforce properties that are related to the class of polynomial time computable sets (the class of polynomial time computable functions respectively), like, e.g., p-immunity. It is shown that there are sets-called p-generic- which have all properties enforceable by such diagonalizations. We study the behaviour and the complexity of p-generic sets. In particular, we show that the existence of p-generic sets in NP is oracle dependent, even if we assume P ≠ NP. © 1987.