Java - Immutable array thread-safety

Question

I have a question regarding the Java Memory Model. Here is a simple class presenting the problem:

public class Immutable         


        

Answer 1

I do think that you're afforded the same semantics with an array as with a final reference to an object. The spec states

A thread that can only see a reference to an object after that object has been completely initialized is guaranteed to see the correctly initialized values for that object's final fields.

It also says

It will also see versions of any object or array referenced by those final fields that are at least as up-to-date as the final fields are.

http://java.sun.com/docs/books/jls/third_edition/html/memory.html#17.5