1 Search Results for "Mocelin Sdroievski, Nicollas"


Document
Instance-Wise Hardness Versus Randomness Tradeoffs for Arthur-Merlin Protocols

Authors: Dieter van Melkebeek and Nicollas Mocelin Sdroievski

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 264, 38th Computational Complexity Conference (CCC 2023)


Abstract
A fundamental question in computational complexity asks whether probabilistic polynomial-time algorithms can be simulated deterministically with a small overhead in time (the BPP vs. P problem). A corresponding question in the realm of interactive proofs asks whether Arthur-Merlin protocols can be simulated nondeterministically with a small overhead in time (the AM vs. NP problem). Both questions are intricately tied to lower bounds. Prominently, in both settings blackbox derandomization, i.e., derandomization through pseudo-random generators, has been shown equivalent to lower bounds for decision problems against circuits. Recently, Chen and Tell (FOCS'21) established near-equivalences in the BPP setting between whitebox derandomization and lower bounds for multi-bit functions against algorithms on almost-all inputs. The key ingredient is a technique to translate hardness into targeted hitting sets in an instance-wise fashion based on a layered arithmetization of the evaluation of a uniform circuit computing the hard function f on the given instance. In this paper we develop a corresponding technique for Arthur-Merlin protocols and establish similar near-equivalences in the AM setting. As an example of our results in the hardness to derandomization direction, consider a length-preserving function f computable by a nondeterministic algorithm that runs in time n^a. We show that if every Arthur-Merlin protocol that runs in time n^c for c = O(log² a) can only compute f correctly on finitely many inputs, then AM is in NP. Our main technical contribution is the construction of suitable targeted hitting-set generators based on probabilistically checkable proofs for nondeterministic computations. As a byproduct of our constructions, we obtain the first result indicating that whitebox derandomization of AM may be equivalent to the existence of targeted hitting-set generators for AM, an issue raised by Goldreich (LNCS, 2011). Byproducts in the average-case setting include the first uniform hardness vs. randomness tradeoffs for AM, as well as an unconditional mild derandomization result for AM.

Cite as

Dieter van Melkebeek and Nicollas Mocelin Sdroievski. Instance-Wise Hardness Versus Randomness Tradeoffs for Arthur-Merlin Protocols. In 38th Computational Complexity Conference (CCC 2023). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 264, pp. 17:1-17:36, Schloss Dagstuhl - Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2023)


Copy BibTex To Clipboard

@InProceedings{vanmelkebeek_et_al:LIPIcs.CCC.2023.17,
  author =	{van Melkebeek, Dieter and Mocelin Sdroievski, Nicollas},
  title =	{{Instance-Wise Hardness Versus Randomness Tradeoffs for Arthur-Merlin Protocols}},
  booktitle =	{38th Computational Complexity Conference (CCC 2023)},
  pages =	{17:1--17:36},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-282-2},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2023},
  volume =	{264},
  editor =	{Ta-Shma, Amnon},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.CCC.2023.17},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-182870},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.CCC.2023.17},
  annote =	{Keywords: Hardness versus randomness tradeoff, Arthur-Merlin protocol, targeted hitting set generator}
}
  • Refine by Author
  • 1 Mocelin Sdroievski, Nicollas
  • 1 van Melkebeek, Dieter

  • Refine by Classification
  • 1 Theory of computation → Pseudorandomness and derandomization

  • Refine by Keyword
  • 1 Arthur-Merlin protocol
  • 1 Hardness versus randomness tradeoff
  • 1 targeted hitting set generator

  • Refine by Type
  • 1 document

  • Refine by Publication Year
  • 1 2023

Questions / Remarks / Feedback
X

Feedback for Dagstuhl Publishing


Thanks for your feedback!

Feedback submitted

Could not send message

Please try again later or send an E-mail