Order-Invariance of Two-Variable Logic is Decidable

Abstract

It is shown that order-invariance of two-variable first-logic is decidable in the finite. This is an immediate consequence of a decision procedure obtained for the finite satisfiability problem for existential second-order logic with two first-order variables (ESO2) on structures with two linear orders and one induced successor. We also show that finite satisfiability is decidable on structures with two successors and one induced linear order. In both cases, so far only decidability for monadic ESO2 has been known. In addition, the finite satisfiability problem for ESO2 on structures with one linear order and its induced successor relation is shown to be decidable in non-deterministic exponential time.