A Focusing Inverse Method Theorem Prover for First-Order Linear Logic

We present the theory and implementation of a theorem prover for first-order intuitionistic linear logic based on the inverse method. The central proof-theoretic insights underlying the prover concern resource management and focused derivations, both of which are traditionally understood in the domain of backward reasoning systems such as logic programming. We illustrate how resource management, focusing, and other intrinsic properties of linear connectives affect the basic forward operations of rule application, contraction, and forward subsumption. We also present some preliminary experimental results obtained with our implementation.