Trace-Tree Magmas: Proof-Producing Infinite Countermodels and 28 New Order-Five Austin Classifications

2026-09-04

Abstract

Finite model finders cannot witness an Austin law: an identity whose finite models are all trivial but which has a nontrivial infinite model. We introduce rank-decreasing sparse trace-tree magmas, finitely presented total operations on a countably infinite constructor-tree carrier. The default product pairs its arguments; finitely many positive Horn clauses define exceptions. Our main procedure derives clauses from symbolic evaluation traces. For every model found, it proves functionality of the exceptional relation by descent on constructor size, proves the identity by exhaustive symbolic case analysis, and emits a self-contained Lean 4 certificate. A least simultaneous fixed point gives an implementation-independent semantics, so bounded search may miss models but cannot invalidate certified results. On ETP's 96 order-five Austin candidates, we discover and Lean-verify infinite countermodels for 28 identities with no prior public classification in our audit. They form 14 duality classes and establish 28 new Austin classifications. Four ALPS-known cases bring the total to 32 certified candidates. On Canonical-4187, the deduplicated union of Order5-130 and the 4,141-row ALPS pool, a fresh trace run produces 636 certificates, all accepted by Judge v3. At equal resource limits, Vampire 5.0.1, E 3.5.1, and complete Twee 2.6.1 jointly prove implications in 94 canonical classes. Only Twee returns trusted counter-satisfiable outcomes, for 18 classes; independent finite-side certificates force 16 to be infinite. None of these ATPs emits an explicit model or Lean certificate, and none decides the 28 new classifications. To the best of our audit, this is the first automated system to synthesize this trace-tree model family, generate well-founded inversion proofs, and emit self-contained Lean 4 certificates.

Problem

• Austin law
• infinite countermodels
• finite model finders

Innovation

• rank-decreasing sparse trace-tree magmas
• symbolic evaluation traces
• Lean 4 certificates
• infinite countermodels