An additively optimal interpreter for approximating Kolmogorov prefix complexity

Abstract: We study practical approximations to Kolmogorov prefix complexity (K) using IMP2, a high-level programming language. Our focus is on investigating the interpreter optimality for this language as the reference machine for the Coding Theorem Method (CTM). A method advanced to deal with applications to algorithmic complexity different to the popular traditional lossless compression approach based on the principles of algorithmic probability. The chosen model of computation is proven to be suitable for this task and a comparison to other models and methods is performed. Our findings show that CTM approximations using our model do not always correlate with results from lower-level models of computation. This suggests some models may require a larger program space to converge to Levin's universal distribution. Furthermore, we compare CTM with an upper bound to Kolmogorov complexity and find a strong correlation, supporting CTM's validity as an approximation method with finer-grade resolution of K.