10 Search Results for "Böhm, Benjamin"

Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.SAT.2026.7
Towards Understanding the Complexity of CAQE: A Proof-Theoretic Analysis of Its Core Procedure

Authors: Benjamin Böhm and Olaf Beyersdorff

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 377, 29th International Conference on Theory and Applications of Satisfiability Testing (SAT 2026)

Abstract
CAQE (Clausal Abstraction for Quantifier Elimination) is currently the most successful algorithmic paradigm for solving Quantified Boolean Formulas (QBF) practice-wise, clearly dominating recent QBF competitions. While apparently being a very strong solver, not much is known about CAQE theory-wise. We propose a framework for formalising runs in the basic CAQE algorithm (where failed assumptions are not considered) as proofs in a proof system CAQE^CORE, which we use to analyse the algorithm proof-theoretically and provide methods for future work to separate it from optimized versions of CAQE that are used in practice. We show that one can perform strategy extraction on the CAQE^CORE proof system in such a way that strategy size serves as a lower bound for basic CAQE runs. Furthermore, we introduce a measure, which we call CAQE width, which not only acts as a lower bound on CAQE^CORE proofs, but - with the quantifier depth as exponent - as an upper bound as well. Using this analysis, we prove that on QBFs of bounded quantifier complexity, both QCDCL (Quantified Conflict Driven Clause Learning, formalised as a proof system) and Q-resolution p-simulate CAQE^CORE and are indeed strictly stronger.
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Benjamin Böhm and Olaf Beyersdorff. Towards Understanding the Complexity of CAQE: A Proof-Theoretic Analysis of Its Core Procedure. In 29th International Conference on Theory and Applications of Satisfiability Testing (SAT 2026). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 377, pp. 7:1-7:20, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2026)

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@InProceedings{bohm_et_al:LIPIcs.SAT.2026.7,
  author =	{B\"{o}hm, Benjamin and Beyersdorff, Olaf},
  title =	{{Towards Understanding the Complexity of CAQE: A Proof-Theoretic Analysis of Its Core Procedure}},
  booktitle =	{29th International Conference on Theory and Applications of Satisfiability Testing (SAT 2026)},
  pages =	{7:1--7:20},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-431-4},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2026},
  volume =	{377},
  editor =	{Ignatiev, Alexey and Szeider, Stefan},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.SAT.2026.7},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-263138},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.SAT.2026.7},
  annote =	{Keywords: QBF, CAQE, CDCL, resolution, proof complexity, simulations, lower bounds}
}
Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.FSTTCS.2025.25
On the Interplay of Cube Learning and Dependency Schemes in {QCDCL} Proof Systems

Authors: Abhimanyu Choudhury and Meena Mahajan

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 360, 45th IARCS Annual Conference on Foundations of Software Technology and Theoretical Computer Science (FSTTCS 2025)

Abstract
Quantified Conflict Driven Clause Leaning (QCDCL) is one of the main approaches to solving Quantified Boolean Formulas (QBF). Cube-learning is employed in this approach to ensure that true formulas can be verified. Dependency Schemes help to detect spurious dependencies that are implied by the variable ordering in the quantifier prefix of QBFs but are not essential for constructing (counter)models. This detection can provably shorten refutations in specific proof systems, and is expected to speed up runs of QBF solvers. The simplest underlying proof system [BeyersdorffBöhm-LMCS2023], formalises the reasoning in the QCDCL approach on false formulas, when neither cube-learning nor dependency schemes is used. The work of [BöhmPeitlBeyersdorff-AI2024] further incorporates cube-learning. The work of [ChoudhuryMahajan-JAR2024] incorporates a limited use of dependency schemes, but without cube-learning. In this work, proof systems underlying the reasoning of QCDCL solvers which use cube learning, and which use dependency schemes at all stages, are formalised. Sufficient conditions for soundness and completeness are presented, and it is shown that using the standard and reflexive resolution path dependency schemes (𝙳^{std} and 𝙳^{rrs}) to relax the decision order provably shortens refutations. When the decisions are restricted to follow quantification order, but dependency schemes are used in propagation and learning, in conjunction with cube-learning, the resulting proof systems using the dependency schemes 𝙳^{std} and 𝙳^{rrs} are investigated in detail and their relative strengths are analysed.
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Abhimanyu Choudhury and Meena Mahajan. On the Interplay of Cube Learning and Dependency Schemes in {QCDCL} Proof Systems. In 45th IARCS Annual Conference on Foundations of Software Technology and Theoretical Computer Science (FSTTCS 2025). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 360, pp. 25:1-25:19, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025)

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@InProceedings{choudhury_et_al:LIPIcs.FSTTCS.2025.25,
  author =	{Choudhury, Abhimanyu and Mahajan, Meena},
  title =	{{On the Interplay of Cube Learning and Dependency Schemes in \{QCDCL\} Proof Systems}},
  booktitle =	{45th IARCS Annual Conference on Foundations of Software Technology and Theoretical Computer Science (FSTTCS 2025)},
  pages =	{25:1--25:19},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-406-2},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2025},
  volume =	{360},
  editor =	{Aiswarya, C. and Mehta, Ruta and Roy, Subhajit},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.FSTTCS.2025.25},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-251062},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.FSTTCS.2025.25},
  annote =	{Keywords: QBF, CDCL, Resolution, Dependency schemes}
}
Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.ITP.2025.13
Barendregt’s Theory of the λ-Calculus, Refreshed and Formalized

Authors: Adrienne Lancelot, Beniamino Accattoli, and Maxime Vemclefs

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 352, 16th International Conference on Interactive Theorem Proving (ITP 2025)

Abstract
Barendregt’s book on the untyped λ-calculus refines the inconsistent view of β-divergence as representation of the undefined via the key concept of head reduction. In this paper, we put together recent revisitations of some key theorems laid out in Barendregt’s book, and we formalize them in the Abella proof assistant. Our work provides a compact and refreshed presentation of the core of the book. The formalization faithfully mimics pen-and-paper proofs. Two interesting aspects are the manipulation of contexts for the study of contextual equivalence and a formal alternative to the informal trick at work in Takahashi’s proof of the genericity lemma. As a by-product, we obtain an alternative definition of contextual equivalence that does not mention contexts.
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Adrienne Lancelot, Beniamino Accattoli, and Maxime Vemclefs. Barendregt’s Theory of the λ-Calculus, Refreshed and Formalized. In 16th International Conference on Interactive Theorem Proving (ITP 2025). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 352, pp. 13:1-13:22, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025)

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@InProceedings{lancelot_et_al:LIPIcs.ITP.2025.13,
  author =	{Lancelot, Adrienne and Accattoli, Beniamino and Vemclefs, Maxime},
  title =	{{Barendregt’s Theory of the \lambda-Calculus, Refreshed and Formalized}},
  booktitle =	{16th International Conference on Interactive Theorem Proving (ITP 2025)},
  pages =	{13:1--13:22},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-396-6},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2025},
  volume =	{352},
  editor =	{Forster, Yannick and Keller, Chantal},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.ITP.2025.13},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-246114},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.ITP.2025.13},
  annote =	{Keywords: lambda-calculus, head reduction, equational theory}
}
Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.CP.2025.12
An Expansion-Based Approach for Quantified Integer Programming

Authors: Michael Hartisch and Leroy Chew

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 340, 31st International Conference on Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming (CP 2025)

Abstract
Quantified Integer Programming (QIP) bridges multiple domains by extending Quantified Boolean Formulas (QBF) to incorporate general integer variables and linear constraints while also generalizing Integer Programming through variable quantification. As a special case of Quantified Constraint Satisfaction Problems (QCSP), QIP provides a versatile framework for addressing complex decision-making scenarios. Additionally, the inclusion of a linear objective function enables QIP to effectively model multistage robust discrete linear optimization problems, making it a powerful tool for tackling uncertainty in optimization. While two primary solution paradigms exist for QBF - search-based and expansion-based approaches - only search-based methods have been explored for QIP and QCSP. We introduce an expansion-based approach for QIP using Counterexample-Guided Abstraction Refinement (CEGAR), adapting techniques from QBF. We extend this methodology to tackle multistage robust discrete optimization problems with linear constraints and further embed it in an optimization framework, enhancing its applicability. Our experimental results highlight the advantages of this approach, demonstrating superior performance over existing search-based solvers for QIP in specific instances. Furthermore, the ability to model problems using linear constraints enables notable performance gains over state-of-the-art expansion-based solvers for QBF.
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Michael Hartisch and Leroy Chew. An Expansion-Based Approach for Quantified Integer Programming. In 31st International Conference on Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming (CP 2025). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 340, pp. 12:1-12:26, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025)

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@InProceedings{hartisch_et_al:LIPIcs.CP.2025.12,
  author =	{Hartisch, Michael and Chew, Leroy},
  title =	{{An Expansion-Based Approach for Quantified Integer Programming}},
  booktitle =	{31st International Conference on Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming (CP 2025)},
  pages =	{12:1--12:26},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-380-5},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2025},
  volume =	{340},
  editor =	{de la Banda, Maria Garcia},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.CP.2025.12},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-238736},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.CP.2025.12},
  annote =	{Keywords: Quantified Integer Programming, Quantified Constraint Satisfaction, Robust Discrete Optimization, Expansion, CEGAR}
}
Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.SAT.2025.11
Better Extension Variables in DQBF via Independence

Authors: Leroy Chew and Tomáš Peitl

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 341, 28th International Conference on Theory and Applications of Satisfiability Testing (SAT 2025)

Abstract
We show that extension variables in (D)QBF can be generalised by conditioning on universal assignments. The benefit of this is that the dependency sets of such conditioned extension variables can be made smaller to allow easier refutations. This simple modification instantly solves many challenges in p-simulating the QBF expansion rule, which cannot be p-simulated in proof systems that have strategy extraction [Leroy Chew and Judith Clymo, 2020]. Simulating expansion is even more crucial in DQBF, where other methods are incomplete. In this paper we provide an overview of the strength of this new independent extension rule. We find that a new version of Extended Frege called IndExtFrege + ∀red can p-simulate a multitude of difficult QBF and DQBF techniques, even techniques that are difficult to approach with eFrege + ∀red. We show five p-simulations, that IndExtFrege + ∀red p-simulates QRAT, DQBF-IR-calc, IR(𝒟^rrs)-calc, Fork-Resolution and DQRAT which together underpin most DQBF solving and preprocessing techniques. The p-simulations work despite these systems using complicated rules and our new extension rule being relatively simple. Moreover, unlike recent p-simulations by eFrege + ∀red we can simulate the proof rules line by line, which allows us to mix QBF rules more easily with other inference steps.
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Leroy Chew and Tomáš Peitl. Better Extension Variables in DQBF via Independence. In 28th International Conference on Theory and Applications of Satisfiability Testing (SAT 2025). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 341, pp. 11:1-11:24, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025)

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@InProceedings{chew_et_al:LIPIcs.SAT.2025.11,
  author =	{Chew, Leroy and Peitl, Tom\'{a}\v{s}},
  title =	{{Better Extension Variables in DQBF via Independence}},
  booktitle =	{28th International Conference on Theory and Applications of Satisfiability Testing (SAT 2025)},
  pages =	{11:1--11:24},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-381-2},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2025},
  volume =	{341},
  editor =	{Berg, Jeremias and Nordstr\"{o}m, Jakob},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.SAT.2025.11},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-237453},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.SAT.2025.11},
  annote =	{Keywords: DQBF, QBF, Proof Systems, Dependency Schemes, RAT, Extended Frege, Skolem functions}
}
Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.STACS.2025.74
Nearly-Optimal Algorithm for Non-Clairvoyant Service with Delay

Authors: Noam Touitou

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 327, 42nd International Symposium on Theoretical Aspects of Computer Science (STACS 2025)

Abstract
We consider the online service with delay problem, in which a server traverses a metric space to serve requests that arrive over time. Requests gather individual delay cost while awaiting service, penalizing service latency; an algorithm seeks to minimize both its movement cost and the total delay cost. Algorithms for the problem (on general metric spaces) are only known for the clairvoyant model, where the algorithm knows future delay cost in advance (e.g., Azar et al., STOC'17; Azar and Touitou, FOCS'19; Touitou, STOC'23). However, in the non-clairvoyant setting, only negative results are known: where n is the size of the metric space and m is the number of requests, there are lower bounds of Ω(√n) and Ω(√m) on competitiveness (Azar et al., STOC'17), that hold even for randomized algorithms (Le et al., SODA'23). In this paper, we present the first algorithm for non-clairvoyant online service with delay. Our algorithm is deterministic and O(min{√n log n, √m log m})-competitive; combined with the lower bounds of Azar et al., this settles the correct competitive ratio for the problem up to logarithmic factors, in terms of both n and m.
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Noam Touitou. Nearly-Optimal Algorithm for Non-Clairvoyant Service with Delay. In 42nd International Symposium on Theoretical Aspects of Computer Science (STACS 2025). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 327, pp. 74:1-74:21, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025)

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@InProceedings{touitou:LIPIcs.STACS.2025.74,
  author =	{Touitou, Noam},
  title =	{{Nearly-Optimal Algorithm for Non-Clairvoyant Service with Delay}},
  booktitle =	{42nd International Symposium on Theoretical Aspects of Computer Science (STACS 2025)},
  pages =	{74:1--74:21},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-365-2},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2025},
  volume =	{327},
  editor =	{Beyersdorff, Olaf and Pilipczuk, Micha{\l} and Pimentel, Elaine and Thắng, Nguy\~{ê}n Kim},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.STACS.2025.74},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-228995},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.STACS.2025.74},
  annote =	{Keywords: Online, Delay, Deadlines, k-server, Non-clairvoyant}
}
Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.CSL.2025.34
The Lambda Calculus Is Quantifiable

Authors: Valentin Maestracci and Paolo Pistone

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 326, 33rd EACSL Annual Conference on Computer Science Logic (CSL 2025)

Abstract
In this paper we introduce several quantitative methods for the lambda-calculus based on partial metrics, a well-studied variant of standard metric spaces that have been used to metrize non-Hausdorff topologies, like those arising from Scott domains. First, we study quantitative variants, based on program distances, of sensible equational theories for the λ-calculus, like those arising from Böhm trees and from the contextual preorder. Then, we introduce applicative distances capturing higher-order Scott topologies, including reflexive objects like the D_∞ model. Finally, we provide a quantitative insight on the well-known connection between the Böhm tree of a λ-term and its Taylor expansion, by showing that the latter can be presented as an isometric transformation.
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Valentin Maestracci and Paolo Pistone. The Lambda Calculus Is Quantifiable. In 33rd EACSL Annual Conference on Computer Science Logic (CSL 2025). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 326, pp. 34:1-34:23, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025)

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@InProceedings{maestracci_et_al:LIPIcs.CSL.2025.34,
  author =	{Maestracci, Valentin and Pistone, Paolo},
  title =	{{The Lambda Calculus Is Quantifiable}},
  booktitle =	{33rd EACSL Annual Conference on Computer Science Logic (CSL 2025)},
  pages =	{34:1--34:23},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-362-1},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2025},
  volume =	{326},
  editor =	{Endrullis, J\"{o}rg and Schmitz, Sylvain},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.CSL.2025.34},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-227911},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.CSL.2025.34},
  annote =	{Keywords: Lambda-calculus, Scott semantics, Partial metric spaces, B\"{o}hm trees, Taylor expansion}
}
Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.SAT.2023.4
QCDCL vs QBF Resolution: Further Insights

Authors: Benjamin Böhm and Olaf Beyersdorff

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 271, 26th International Conference on Theory and Applications of Satisfiability Testing (SAT 2023)

Abstract
We continue the investigation on the relations of QCDCL and QBF resolution systems. In particular, we introduce QCDCL versions that tightly characterise QU-Resolution and (a slight variant of) long-distance Q-Resolution. We show that most QCDCL variants - parameterised by different policies for decisions, unit propagations and reductions - lead to incomparable systems for almost all choices of these policies.
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Benjamin Böhm and Olaf Beyersdorff. QCDCL vs QBF Resolution: Further Insights. In 26th International Conference on Theory and Applications of Satisfiability Testing (SAT 2023). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 271, pp. 4:1-4:17, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2023)

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@InProceedings{bohm_et_al:LIPIcs.SAT.2023.4,
  author =	{B\"{o}hm, Benjamin and Beyersdorff, Olaf},
  title =	{{QCDCL vs QBF Resolution: Further Insights}},
  booktitle =	{26th International Conference on Theory and Applications of Satisfiability Testing (SAT 2023)},
  pages =	{4:1--4:17},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-286-0},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2023},
  volume =	{271},
  editor =	{Mahajan, Meena and Slivovsky, Friedrich},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.SAT.2023.4},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-184660},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.SAT.2023.4},
  annote =	{Keywords: QBF, CDCL, resolution, proof complexity, simulations, lower bounds}
}
Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.SAT.2022.11
Should Decisions in QCDCL Follow Prefix Order?

Authors: Benjamin Böhm, Tomáš Peitl, and Olaf Beyersdorff

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 236, 25th International Conference on Theory and Applications of Satisfiability Testing (SAT 2022)

Abstract
Quantified conflict-driven clause learning (QCDCL) is one of the main solving approaches for quantified Boolean formulas (QBF). One of the differences between QCDCL and propositional CDCL is that QCDCL typically follows the prefix order of the QBF for making decisions. We investigate an alternative model for QCDCL solving where decisions can be made in arbitrary order. The resulting system QCDCL^ANY is still sound and terminating, but does not necessarily allow to always learn asserting clauses or cubes. To address this potential drawback, we additionally introduce two subsystems that guarantee to always learn asserting clauses (QCDCL^UNI-ANI) and asserting cubes (QCDCL^EXI-ANY), respectively. We model all four approaches by formal proof systems and show that QCDCL^UNI-ANY is exponentially better than QCDCL on false formulas, whereas QCDCL^EXI-ANY is exponentially better than QCDCL on true QBFs. Technically, this involves constructing specific QBF families and showing lower and upper bounds in the respective proof systems. We complement our theoretical study with some initial experiments that confirm our theoretical findings.
Cite as

Benjamin Böhm, Tomáš Peitl, and Olaf Beyersdorff. Should Decisions in QCDCL Follow Prefix Order?. In 25th International Conference on Theory and Applications of Satisfiability Testing (SAT 2022). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 236, pp. 11:1-11:19, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2022)

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@InProceedings{bohm_et_al:LIPIcs.SAT.2022.11,
  author =	{B\"{o}hm, Benjamin and Peitl, Tom\'{a}\v{s} and Beyersdorff, Olaf},
  title =	{{Should Decisions in QCDCL Follow Prefix Order?}},
  booktitle =	{25th International Conference on Theory and Applications of Satisfiability Testing (SAT 2022)},
  pages =	{11:1--11:19},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-242-6},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2022},
  volume =	{236},
  editor =	{Meel, Kuldeep S. and Strichman, Ofer},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.SAT.2022.11},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-166850},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.SAT.2022.11},
  annote =	{Keywords: QBF, CDCL, proof complexity, lower bounds}
}
Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2021.12
Understanding the Relative Strength of QBF CDCL Solvers and QBF Resolution

Authors: Olaf Beyersdorff and Benjamin Böhm

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 185, 12th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2021)

Abstract
QBF solvers implementing the QCDCL paradigm are powerful algorithms that successfully tackle many computationally complex applications. However, our theoretical understanding of the strength and limitations of these QCDCL solvers is very limited. In this paper we suggest to formally model QCDCL solvers as proof systems. We define different policies that can be used for decision heuristics and unit propagation and give rise to a number of sound and complete QBF proof systems (and hence new QCDCL algorithms). With respect to the standard policies used in practical QCDCL solving, we show that the corresponding QCDCL proof system is incomparable (via exponential separations) to Q-resolution, the classical QBF resolution system used in the literature. This is in stark contrast to the propositional setting where CDCL and resolution are known to be p-equivalent. This raises the question what formulas are hard for standard QCDCL, since Q-resolution lower bounds do not necessarily apply to QCDCL as we show here. In answer to this question we prove several lower bounds for QCDCL, including exponential lower bounds for a large class of random QBFs. We also introduce a strengthening of the decision heuristic used in classical QCDCL, which does not necessarily decide variables in order of the prefix, but still allows to learn asserting clauses. We show that with this decision policy, QCDCL can be exponentially faster on some formulas. We further exhibit a QCDCL proof system that is p-equivalent to Q-resolution. In comparison to classical QCDCL, this new QCDCL version adapts both decision and unit propagation policies.
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Olaf Beyersdorff and Benjamin Böhm. Understanding the Relative Strength of QBF CDCL Solvers and QBF Resolution. In 12th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2021). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 185, pp. 12:1-12:20, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2021)

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@InProceedings{beyersdorff_et_al:LIPIcs.ITCS.2021.12,
  author =	{Beyersdorff, Olaf and B\"{o}hm, Benjamin},
  title =	{{Understanding the Relative Strength of QBF CDCL Solvers and QBF Resolution}},
  booktitle =	{12th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2021)},
  pages =	{12:1--12:20},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-177-1},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2021},
  volume =	{185},
  editor =	{Lee, James R.},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2021.12},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-135519},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2021.12},
  annote =	{Keywords: CDCL, QBF, QCDCL, proof complexity, resolution, Q-resolution}
}
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