In computability theory, super-recursive algorithms are posited as a generalization of hypercomputation: hypothetical algorithms that are more powerful, that is, compute more than Turing machines.

The term was introduced by Mark Burgin, whose book Super-recursive algorithms develops their theory and presents several mathematical models.

Burgin argues that super-recursive algorithms can be used to disprove the Church-Turing thesis. This point of view has been criticized within the mathematical community and is not widely accepted.

Definition

Burgin (2005: 13) uses the term recursive algorithms for algorithms that can be implemented on Turing machines, and uses the word algorithm in a more general sense. Then a super-recursive class of algorithms is "a class of algorithms in which it is possible to compute functions not computable by any Turing machine" (Burgin 2005: 107)

Super-recursive algorithms are also related to algorithmic schemes, another novel concept from Burgin, which are more general than super-recursive algorithms. Burgin argues (2005: 115) that it is necessary to make a clear distinction between super-recursive algorithms and those algorithmic schemes that are not algorithms. Under this distinction, some types of hypercomputation are obtained by super-recursive algorithms.

Relation to the Church–Turing thesis

The Church–Turing thesis in recursion theory relies on a particular definition of the term algorithm. Based on definitions that are more general than the one commonly used in recursion theory, Burgin argues that super-recursive algorithms, such as inductive Turing machines disprove the Church–Turing thesis. He furthermore claims to prove that super-recursive algorithms could hypothetically provide even greater efficiency gains than using quantum algorithms.

Burgin's interpretation of super-recursive algorithms has encountered opposition in the mathematical community. One critic is logician Martin Davis, who argues that Burgin's claims have been well understood "for decades". Davis states,

"The present criticism is not about the mathematical discussion of these matters but only about the misleading claims regarding physical systems of the present and future."(Davis 2006: 128)

Davis disputes Burgin's claims that sets at level ${\displaystyle \Delta _{2}^{0))$ of the arithmetical hierarchy can be called computable, saying

"It is generally understood that for a computational result to be useful one must be able to at least recognize that it is indeed the result sought." (Davis 2006: 128)