Our main object of investigation is a higher-order functional programming language, Real PCF, which is an extension of PCF with a data type for real numbers and constants for primitive real functions. Real PCF has both operational and denotational semantics, related by a computational adequacy property. In the standard interpretation of Real PCF, types are interpreted as continuous Scott domains. We refer to the domains in the universe of discourse of Real PCF induced by the standard interpretation of types as the real numbers type hierarchy .
Sequences are functions defined on natural numbers, and predicates are truth-valued functions.
As it is well-known, the notion of computability on a domain depends on the choice of an effective presentation. We say that an effective presentation of the real numbers type hierarchy is sound if all Real PCF definable elements and functions are computable with respect to it. The idea is that Real PCF has an effective operational semantics, and therefore the definable elements and functions should be regarded as concretely computable. We then show that there is a unique sound effective presentation of the real numbers type hierarchy, up to equivalence with respect to the induced notion of computability. We can thus say that there is an absolute notion of computability for the real numbers type hierarchy.