selfequivalent

Selfequivalent refers to a property of certain mathematical objects or systems where an object is equivalent to itself under a specific transformation or definition. This concept is often encountered in fields like abstract algebra, category theory, and logic.

In abstract algebra, a group might be considered selfequivalent if it possesses an automorphism that maps every element to itself. This is a trivial automorphism, but it highlights the idea of self-equivalence. More significantly, certain structures might be equivalent to themselves under isomorphism, meaning there exists a structure-preserving map from the structure to itself that is also invertible.

In category theory, a functor can be selfequivalent if it is naturally isomorphic to the identity functor on a category. This implies that for every object in the category, there's an isomorphism between the object and its image under the functor, and these isomorphisms are compatible with the morphisms in the category.

In logic and computability theory, a problem or a set might be selfequivalent if it can be mapped to itself in a way that preserves certain properties. For example, a recursively enumerable set might be considered selfequivalent if it can be mapped to itself by a computable function in such a way that the structure of the set is maintained. The notion of self-reducibility, where a problem can be reduced to an instance of itself, is a related concept.

Ultimately, selfequivalence signifies a form of internal symmetry or a consistent mapping of a system onto itself without altering its fundamental characteristics. The precise definition and implication of selfequivalence depend heavily on the mathematical context in which it is applied.