Process synchronisation as fusion

Process algebras based on the notion of concurrent processes cooperating on common actions are commonplace in the literature. Here we give a categorical model of such a notion of interprocess synchronisation, and indicate how it can be extended to a model of full process algebra. Our main tool is the notion of bimodule over an enriched category: this turns out to be precisely the machinery needed to fuse the behaviours of processes together and thus describe synchronisation. Maximal (CSP-style) synchronisation can then be given a universal characterisation.

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