Plectis Atlas
Search

↑ and ↓ move, Enter opens, Esc closes.

Show on the map

Two notions of free entropy differ even when both are finite

OpenAI groups related papers into a “family”. OpenAI’s catalogue describes this one:

Constructs a bounded self-adjoint tuple in a tracial von Neumann algebra whose microstates and nonmicrostates free entropies satisfy \(-\infty\lt \chi\lt \chi^*\lt \infty\). This answers Voiculescu’s finite-entropy equality question negatively: the matrix-approximation and free-Fisher-information definitions differ even when both are finite. (OpenAI’s Lean note)

Lean is a language for mathematical statements and proofs that a computer can verify. The assessments below ask whether those statements express the result OpenAI describes here.

Both independent assessments find that the Lean statements express or imply the whole result described above. Read the assessments

The paper states

Theorem 1.1

In A finite-entropy separation of microstates and nonmicrostates free entropy, 25 September 2026

Possible match to OpenAI’s description, selected from the papers’ main statements because it shares the most wording. No review confirming the selection is recorded.

There exist an integer n\geq2 and a bounded self-adjoint tuple X=(X_1,\ldots,X_n) in a von Neumann algebra with faithful normal tracial state such that

-\infty<\chi(X)\leq\chi^*(X)-\tfrac12<\infty.

Here \chi is the original microstates entropy using an operator-norm cutoff and a limsup over matrix sizes.

Reported proof verification
One Lean statement in the release; two independent groups report that Comparator accepted runs for this file at the version shown here.

Papers

Each paper opens as a reading page in the browser, with the PDF beside it. The statements each paper opens with are on its reading page.

A finite-entropy separation of microstates and nonmicrostates free entropy

25 September 2026, current edition.

Read it herePDF

We answer the finite-entropy equality question for microstates and nonmicrostates free entropy negatively. We construct a bounded self-adjoint tuple X in a von Neumann algebra with faithful normal tracial state such that \(-\infty\lt \chi(X)\leq\chi^*(X)-\tfrac12\lt \infty\). Here χ is the original microstates entropy with an operator-norm cutoff and a limsup over matrix sizes. The counterexample uses a large but fixed number of variables.

One Lean statement in this family

Lean is a language for mathematical statements and proofs that a computer can verify. The Lean statement below is shown beside its possible paper counterpart, with the reason they were linked.

For a configured theorem, the Comparator program tests whether OpenAI’s separate proof proves the exact Lean statement using only the allowed axioms. Some statement files instead configure definitions for comparison by name and type. Acceptance does not establish that a formal statement means the same thing as the paper’s theorem.

FiniteEntropySeparation

The paper states

The words they share: 1/2, microstates, von, algebra, tracial, chi, neumann, norm, cutoff, integer, matrix, adjoint, tuple, self, free, using, state, sizes, operator, normal, faithful, entropy, bounded.

Possible Lean counterpart

Selected from shared wording. No review of whether the statements mean the same thing is recorded.

Finite separation of microstates and nonmicrostates free entropy

FiniteEntropySeparation.lean, the release lists it as a supporting statement.

theorem main :    ∃ (H : Type) (_ : NormedAddCommGroup H) (_ : InnerProductSpace ℂ H)      (_ : CompleteSpace H) (M : VonNeumannAlgebra H) (τ : TracialVector M)      (n : ℕ) (X S : Fin n → H →L[ℂ] H),      2 ≤ n ∧      (∀ i, X i ∈ M ∧ IsSelfAdjoint (X i)) ∧      (∀ i, S i ∈ M ∧ IsSelfAdjoint (S i)) ∧      FreeStandardNoise τ X S ∧      (⊥ : EReal) < chi τ X ∧      chi τ X ≤ chiStar τ X S - (1 / 2 : EReal) ∧      chiStar τ X S - (1 / 2 : EReal) < (⊤ : EReal) := by  sorry

This file states the theorem with sorry, a placeholder, in place of its proof. OpenAI supplies a separate proof file. Comparator tests whether that proof proves the statement here.

two independent groups report that Comparator accepted runs for this Lean statement file: cert-machine; MathVet. Who ran the proof-verification program

  • cert-machine records it as “CERTIFIED”.
  • MathVet records it as “comparator-sandboxed-pass”.

Read the complete Lean statement

Other mathematical statements in OpenAI’s Lean library

Atlas found these propositions by scanning the text of the project’s Model.lean file. Each name links to its definition, with any associated statement file beside it. This list does not record running Lean to interpret or verify those definitions.

Independent comparisons and proof-verification reports

Does the Lean express the advertised result?

MathVet and cert-machine agree on how much of the advertised result the Lean statements express.

MathVet and Carlos Toledo’s cert-machine independently assessed whether this family’s Lean statements express the whole result OpenAI describes in its catalogue. These are assessments of the family as a whole, not of each paper theorem separately.

MathVet finds that the Lean statements express or imply the whole advertised result (their term: “full”).

Their note: main : ∃ H M τ n X S, 2 ≤ n ∧ X_i, S_i ∈ M self-adjoint ∧ FreeStandardNoise τ X S ∧ ⊥ < chi τ X ∧ chi τ X ≤ chiStar τ X S - 1/2 ∧ chiStar τ X S - 1/2 < ⊤: a bounded self-adjoint tuple in a von Neumann algebra with faithful normal trace (TracialVector), with S a freely independent semicircular family free from X, and chi (microstates with operator-norm cutoff R, limsup over matrix sizes, inf over moment orders m and tolerances ε, sup over R) strictly below the nonmicrostates chiStar (free Fisher information integral along X + √s S) by at least 1/2, both finite. Matches the summary (n >= 2 variables, finite and unequal).

Definitions the group asks readers to compare with the paper: Custom ‘free entropy’: chiCutoff τ X R := ⨅ m ε, limsup_d ((d+1)^{-2} (volume (microstates τ X R m (d+1) ε)).log + (n/2) log(d+1)) in EReal, chi := ⨆ R, chiCutoff, freeFisher := ⨅ conjugate systems ξ, ‖ξ‖² (∞ if none), chiStar := (n/2) log(2πe) + 1/2 ∫⁻ (n/(1+s) - Φ*(X + √s S))⁺ - 1/2 ∫⁻ (Φ* - n/(1+s))⁺ via ConjugateSystem (polynomial moments) and FreeSubalgebras; standard Voiculescu definitions written out by hand (EReal ⊤ - ⊤ conventions are not an issue because the claim bounds chiStar - 1/2 below ⊤).

“full”, in their words: The challenge statements imply the headline claim after unpacking definitions or one routine step.

Their method: An independent, model-assisted, pre-referee reading of each family’s challenge statements against its headline claim under a published rubric (PROTOCOL.md), with its own Comparator runs per challenge.

cert-machine finds that the Lean statements express or imply the whole advertised result (their term: “MATCHES”).

“MATCHES”, in their words: The challenge statements state the headline as OpenAI wrote it.

Their method: Every Comparator challenge re-run on Linux with nanoda switched on, decided by a preregistered rule.

OpenAI’s own note on what its Lean covers

The formalization disproves equality of microstates and nonmicrostates free entropy even when both quantities are finite. It constructs a bounded self-adjoint tuple $X$ in a von Neumann algebra with a faithful normal tracial state such that $-\infty<\chi(X)\le\chi^*(X)-1/2<\infty$. Here $\chi$ is the microstates entropy with an operator-norm cutoff and a limsup over matrix sizes, and $\chi^*$ is the nonmicrostates entropy defined using free semicircular noise. The example has a fixed finite number of variables.

AI-drafted comparisons, with no recorded human review

  • Finite separation of microstates and nonmicrostates free entropy FiniteEntropySeparation

    Unreviewed AI draft: states a paper’s theorem as the paper does. States the main theorem: a bounded self-adjoint tuple with −∞ < χ(X) ≤ χ*(X) − 1/2 < ∞, separating the two free entropies.

Who ran the proof-verification program?

These groups report running Comparator with the release’s Lean statement files. For a configured theorem, it verifies OpenAI’s separate proof against the exact statement; some files instead configure definitions for comparison by name and type. Each row is the named group’s report. Atlas has not repeated the runs.

These reports do not list the software versions, proof-verification programs, axioms, time or memory in separate fields. Any such details in a report’s prose are reproduced below.

Finite separation of microstates and nonmicrostates free entropy FiniteEntropySeparation

Two reports, all at the release’s recorded version.

Reported byTheir wordTheir accountDateOriginal report
cert-machine“CERTIFIED”Re-run through Comparator with the independent nanoda kernel switched on: Lean’s kernel and nanoda both accept OpenAI’s solution.10 October 2026Original report
MathVet“comparator-sandboxed-pass”Re-run through Comparator in a sandboxed virtual machine: accepted.8 October 2026Original report

What these papers cite in the release, and what cites them

These links come from the papers’ bibliographies. A citation records that one paper cites another; how each cited result is used has not been examined here.

Papers elsewhere in the release that this family’s papers cite

Papers elsewhere in the release that cite this family’s papers

No paper elsewhere in the release cites this family’s papers.

References outside the release

Each paper’s outside references are listed with it on its reading page, where each citation is placed. Every outside work cited in the release: References outside the release

Explain a result, compare statements or propose a correction

Atlas has no contributed explanation for this family yet. You can offer one with a GitHub account. You receive named credit and disclose any AI assistance.

Each button opens a GitHub form with this page and its source version filled in. Opening the form does not reserve the work.

Offer to write an explanationCompare the Lean statement with the paperSuggest a source attributionSuggest a change

What people have said

Commentary on this family by others, dated and credited. It is commentary, not a finding.

  • An unsigned public tier list, the OpenAI Math Tier List, classes it as a counterexample and rates its significance, if it holds up, as “Major math journal”. The page says that nothing on it is verified.

    Author not stated. Source

Questions awaiting review

Each item identifies a statement, definition or report that needs further review. Its link opens a GitHub form with the source version already recorded.

Read the Lean statement against the paper

  • An AI agent drafted an assessment of which part of the paper this Lean statement expresses. No named human review is recorded. Open the form

Identify the theorem the catalogue describes

  • Family 298 The theorem shown was selected from shared wording with OpenAI’s description. Atlas records no review confirming that it is the theorem the description means. Open the form

Address a question raised in an independent assessment

Compare the proposed paper and Lean matches

  • Family 298 Atlas records no review of whether each linked Lean statement and paper theorem mean the same thing. Open the form