Concurrency, sigma-Algebras, and Probabilistic Fairness

We extend previous constructions of probabilities for a prime event structure E by allowing arbitrary confusion. Our study builds on results related to fairness in event structures that are of interest per se. Executions of E are captured by the set Ω of maximal configurations. We show that the information collected by observing only fair executions of E is confined in some σ-algebra F0, contained in the Borel σ-algebra F of Ω. Equality F0 = F holds when confusion is finite (formally, for the class of locally finite event structures), but inclusion F0 ⊆ F is strict in general. We show the existence of an increasing chain F0 ⊆ F1 ⊆ F2 ⊆ . . . of subσ-algebras of F that capture the information collected when observing executions of increasing unfairness. We show that, if the event structure unfolds a 1-safe net, then unfairness remains quantitatively bounded, that is, the above chain reaches F in finitely many steps. The construction of probabilities typically relies on a Kolmogorov extension argument. Such arguments can achieve the construction of probabilities on the σ-algebra F0 only, while one is interested in probabilities defined on the entire Borel σ-algebra F. We prove that, when the event structure unfolds a 1-safe net, then unfair executions all belong to some set of F0 of zero probability. Whence F0 = F modulo 0 always holds, whereas F0 6= F in general. This yields a new construction of Markovian probabilistic nets, carrying a natural interpretation that “unfair executions possess zero probability”.