Completeness of atomic initial sequents explained

In sequent calculus, the completeness of atomic initial sequents states that initial sequents (where is an arbitrary formula) can be derived from only atomic initial sequents (where is an atomic formula). This theorem plays a role analogous to eta expansion in lambda calculus, and dual to cut elimination and beta reduction. Typically it can be established by induction on the structure of, much more easily than cut elimination.

References

• Gaisi Takeuti. Proof theory. Volume 81 of Studies in Logic and the Foundation of Mathematics. North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1975.
• Anne Sjerp Troelstra and Helmut Schwichtenberg. Basic Proof Theory. Edition: 2, illustrated, revised. Published by Cambridge University Press, 2000.