9 Search Results for "Saraogi, Sidhant"

Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.STACS.2026.28
Conditional Complexity Hardness: Monotone Circuit Size, Matrix Rigidity, and Tensor Rank

Authors: Nikolai Chukhin, Alexander S. Kulikov, Ivan Mihajlin, and Arina Smirnova

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 364, 43rd International Symposium on Theoretical Aspects of Computer Science (STACS 2026)

Abstract
Proving complexity lower bounds remains a challenging task: currently, we only know how to prove conditional uniform (algorithm) lower bounds and nonuniform (circuit) lower bounds in restricted circuit models. About a decade ago, Williams (STOC 2010) showed how to derive nonuniform lower bounds from uniform upper bounds: roughly, by designing a fast algorithm for checking satisfiability of circuits, one gets a lower bound for this circuit class. Since then, a number of results of this kind have been proved. For example, Jahanjou et al. (ICALP 2015) and Carmosino et al. (ITCS 2016) proved that if NSETH fails, then E^{NP} has series-parallel circuit size ω(n). One can also derive nonuniform lower bounds from nondeterministic uniform lower bounds. Perhaps the most well-known example is the Karp-Lipton theorem (STOC 1980): if Σ₂ ≠ Π₂, then NP ⊄ P/poly. Some recent examples include the following. Nederlof (STOC 2020) proved a lower bound on the matrix multiplication tensor rank under an assumption that TSP cannot be solved faster than in 2ⁿ time. Belova et al. (SODA 2024) proved that there exists an explicit polynomial family of arithmetic circuit size Ω(n^{δ}), for any δ > 0, assuming that MAX-3-SAT cannot be solved faster than in 2ⁿ nondeterministic time. Williams (FOCS 2024) proved an exponential lower bound for ETHR ∘ ETHR circuits under the Orthogonal Vectors conjecture. Whereas all the lower bounds above are proved under strong assumptions that might eventually be refuted, the revealed connections are of great interest and may still give further insights: one may be able to weaken the used assumptions or to construct generators from other fine-grained reductions. In this paper, we continue developing this line of research and show how uniform nondeterministic lower bounds can be used to construct generators of various types of combinatorial objects that are notoriously hard to analyze: Boolean functions of high circuit size, matrices of high rigidity, and tensors of high rank. Specifically, we prove the following. - If, for some ε and k, k-SAT cannot be solved in input-oblivious co-nondeterministic time O(2^{(1/2+ε)n}), then there exists a monotone Boolean function family in coNP of monotone circuit size 2^{Ω(n / log n)}. Combining this with the result above, we get win-win circuit lower bounds: either E^{NP{}} requires series-parallel circuits of size ω(n) or coNP requires monotone circuits of size 2^{Ω(n / log n)}. - If, for all ε > 0, MAX-3-SAT cannot be solved in co-nondeterministic time O(2^{(1 - ε)n}), then there exist small families of matrices with rigidity exceeding the best known constructions as well as small families of three-dimensional tensors of rank n^{1+Δ}, for some Δ > 0.
Cite as

Nikolai Chukhin, Alexander S. Kulikov, Ivan Mihajlin, and Arina Smirnova. Conditional Complexity Hardness: Monotone Circuit Size, Matrix Rigidity, and Tensor Rank. In 43rd International Symposium on Theoretical Aspects of Computer Science (STACS 2026). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 364, pp. 28:1-28:21, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2026)

Copy BibTex To Clipboard

@InProceedings{chukhin_et_al:LIPIcs.STACS.2026.28,
  author =	{Chukhin, Nikolai and Kulikov, Alexander S. and Mihajlin, Ivan and Smirnova, Arina},
  title =	{{Conditional Complexity Hardness: Monotone Circuit Size, Matrix Rigidity, and Tensor Rank}},
  booktitle =	{43rd International Symposium on Theoretical Aspects of Computer Science (STACS 2026)},
  pages =	{28:1--28:21},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-412-3},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2026},
  volume =	{364},
  editor =	{Mahajan, Meena and Manea, Florin and McIver, Annabelle 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.2026.28},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-255177},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.STACS.2026.28},
  annote =	{Keywords: computational complexity, circuit complexity, lower bounds, conditional lower bounds, monotone circuits, matrix rigidity, tensor rank, arithmetic circuits, fine-grained complexity}
}
Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.79
Range Avoidance and Remote Point: New Algorithms and Hardness

Authors: Shengtang Huang, Xin Li, and Yan Zhong

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 362, 17th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2026)

Abstract
The Range Avoidance (Avoid) problem C-Avoid[n,m(n)] asks that, given a circuit in a class C with input length n and output length m(n) > n, find a string not in the range of the circuit. This problem has been a central piece in several recent frameworks for proving circuit lower bounds and constructing explicit combinatorial objects. Previous work by Korten (FOCS' 21) and by Ren, Santhanam, and Wang (FOCS' 22) showed that algorithms for Avoid are closely related to circuit lower bounds. In particular, Korten’s work reinterpreted an earlier result from bounded arithmetic, originally proved by Jeřábek (Ann. Pure Appl. Log. 2004), as an equivalence in computational complexity between the existence of FP^NP algorithms for the general Avoid problem and 2^{Ω(n)} lower bounds against general Boolean circuits for the class 𝐄^NP. In this work, we significantly complement these works by generalizing the equivalence result to restricted circuit classes and obtain the following: - For any constant depth unbounded fan-in circuit class C ⊇ AC⁰, there is an FP^NP algorithm for C-Avoid[n,n^{1+ε}] (for any constant ε > 0) if and only if 𝐄^NP cannot be computed by C circuits of size 2^{o(n)}. This addresses an open problem by Korten (Bulletin of EATCS' 25). - If 𝐄^NP cannot be computed by o(2ⁿ/n) size formulas, then there is an FP^NP algorithm for NC⁰-Avoid[n,2n]. Note that by an extension of Ren, Santhanam, and Wang (FOCS' 22), an FP^NP algorithm for NC⁰₄-Avoid[n,n+n^δ] for any constant δ ∈ (0,1) implies 𝐄^NP cannot be computed by o(2ⁿ/n) size formulas. These results yield the first characterizations of FP^NP C-Avoid algorithms for low-complexity circuit classes such as AC⁰. We also consider the average-case analog of Avoid, the Remote Point (Remote-Point) problem, and establish: - For some suitable function c(n) and constant γ > 0, there is an FP^NP algorithm for Remote-Point[n,n^{6+γ},c(O_{γ}(log n))] if and only if 𝐄^NP cannot be (1/2-c(n))-approximated by circuits of size 2^{o(n)}. Finally, we also present two improved algorithms for NC⁰-Avoid: - A family of 2^{n^{1 - ε/(k-1) +o(1)}} time algorithms for NC⁰_k-Avoid[n,n^{1+ε}] for any ε > 0, exhibiting the first subexponential-time algorithm for any super-linear stretch. - Faster local algorithms for NC⁰_k-Avoid[n,n+1] running in time O(n2^{(k-2)/(k-1) n}), improving the naive 2ⁿ⋅ poly(n) bound.
Cite as

Shengtang Huang, Xin Li, and Yan Zhong. Range Avoidance and Remote Point: New Algorithms and Hardness. In 17th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2026). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 362, pp. 79:1-79:19, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2026)

Copy BibTex To Clipboard

@InProceedings{huang_et_al:LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.79,
  author =	{Huang, Shengtang and Li, Xin and Zhong, Yan},
  title =	{{Range Avoidance and Remote Point: New Algorithms and Hardness}},
  booktitle =	{17th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2026)},
  pages =	{79:1--79:19},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-410-9},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2026},
  volume =	{362},
  editor =	{Saraf, Shubhangi},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.79},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-253662},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.79},
  annote =	{Keywords: Circuit Lower Bounds, Range Avoidance Problem, Remote Point Problem}
}
Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.60
Total Search Problems in ZPP

Authors: Noah Fleming, Stefan Grosser, Siddhartha Jain, Jiawei Li, Hanlin Ren, Morgan Shirley, and Weiqiang Yuan

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 362, 17th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2026)

Abstract
We initiate a systematic study of TFZPP, the class of total NP search problems solvable by polynomial time randomized algorithms. TFZPP contains a variety of important search problems such as Bertrand-Chebyshev (finding a prime between N and 2N), refuter problems for many circuit lower bounds, and Lossy-Code. The Lossy-Code problem has found prominence due to its fundamental connections to derandomization, catalytic computing, and the metamathematics of complexity theory, among other areas. While TFZPP collapses to FP under standard derandomization assumptions in the white-box setting, we are able to separate TFZPP from the major TFNP subclasses in the black-box setting. In fact, we are able to separate it from every uniform TFNP class assuming that NP is not in quasi-polynomial time. To do so, we extend the connection between proof complexity and black-box TFNP to randomized proof systems and randomized reductions. Next, we turn to developing a taxonomy of TFZPP problems. We highlight a problem called Nephew, originating from an infinity axiom in set theory. We show that Nephew is in PWPP∩ TFZPP and conjecture that it is not reducible to Lossy-Code. Intriguingly, except for some artificial examples, most other black-box TFZPP problems that we are aware of reduce to Lossy-Code: - We define a problem called Empty-Child capturing finding a leaf in a rooted (binary) tree, and show that this problem is equivalent to Lossy-Code. We also show that a variant of Empty-Child with "heights" is complete for the intersection of SOPL and Lossy-Code. - We strengthen Lossy-Code with several combinatorial inequalities such as the AM-GM inequality. Somewhat surprisingly, we show the resulting new problems are still reducible to Lossy-Code. A technical highlight of this result is that they are proved by formalizations in bounded arithmetic, specifically in Jeřábek’s theory APC₁ (JSL 2007). - Finally, we show that the Dense-Linear-Ordering problem reduces to Lossy-Code.
Cite as

Noah Fleming, Stefan Grosser, Siddhartha Jain, Jiawei Li, Hanlin Ren, Morgan Shirley, and Weiqiang Yuan. Total Search Problems in ZPP. In 17th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2026). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 362, pp. 60:1-60:26, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2026)

Copy BibTex To Clipboard

@InProceedings{fleming_et_al:LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.60,
  author =	{Fleming, Noah and Grosser, Stefan and Jain, Siddhartha and Li, Jiawei and Ren, Hanlin and Shirley, Morgan and Yuan, Weiqiang},
  title =	{{Total Search Problems in ZPP}},
  booktitle =	{17th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2026)},
  pages =	{60:1--60:26},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-410-9},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2026},
  volume =	{362},
  editor =	{Saraf, Shubhangi},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.60},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-253473},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.60},
  annote =	{Keywords: TFNP, lossy code, randomized proof systems, query complexity}
}
Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.68
Fourier Sparsity of Delta Functions and Matching Vector PIRs

Authors: Fatemeh Ghasemi and Swastik Kopparty

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 362, 17th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2026)

Abstract
In this paper we study a basic and natural question about Fourier analysis of Boolean functions, which has applications to the study of Matching Vector based Private Information Retrieval (PIR) schemes. For integers m,r, define a delta function on {0,1}^r ⊆ ℤ_m^r to be a function f: ℤ_m^r → C if f(0) = 1 and f(x) = 0 for all nonzero Boolean x. The basic question that we study is how small can the Fourier sparsity of a delta function be; namely, how sparse can such an f be in the Fourier basis? In addition to being intrinsically interesting and natural, such questions arise naturally while studying "S-decoding polynomials" for the known matching vector families. Finding S-decoding polynomials of reduced sparsity - which corresponds to finding delta functions with low Fourier sparsity - would improve the current best PIR schemes. We show nontrivial upper and lower bounds on the Fourier sparsity of delta functions. Our proofs are elementary and clean. These results imply limitations on improvements to the Matching Vector PIR schemes simply by finding better S-decoding polynomials. In particular, there are no S-decoding polynomials which can make Matching Vector PIRs based on the known matching vector families achieve polylogarithmic communication for constantly many servers. Many interesting questions remain open.
Cite as

Fatemeh Ghasemi and Swastik Kopparty. Fourier Sparsity of Delta Functions and Matching Vector PIRs. In 17th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2026). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 362, pp. 68:1-68:22, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2026)

Copy BibTex To Clipboard

@InProceedings{ghasemi_et_al:LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.68,
  author =	{Ghasemi, Fatemeh and Kopparty, Swastik},
  title =	{{Fourier Sparsity of Delta Functions and Matching Vector PIRs}},
  booktitle =	{17th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2026)},
  pages =	{68:1--68:22},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-410-9},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2026},
  volume =	{362},
  editor =	{Saraf, Shubhangi},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.68},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-253556},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.68},
  annote =	{Keywords: Fourier Sparsity, Matching Vectors, Private Information Retrieval}
}
Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.111
Hardness of Range Avoidance and Proof Complexity Generators from Demi-Bits

Authors: Hanlin Ren, Yichuan Wang, and Yan Zhong

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 362, 17th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2026)

Abstract
Given a circuit G: {0, 1}ⁿ → {0, 1}^m with m > n, the range avoidance problem (Avoid) asks to output a string y ∈ {0, 1}^m that is not in the range of G. Besides its profound connection to circuit complexity and explicit construction problems, this problem is also related to the existence of proof complexity generators - circuits G: {0, 1}ⁿ → {0, 1}^m where m > n but for every y ∈ {0, 1}^m, it is infeasible to prove the statement "y ̸ ∈ Range(G)" in a given propositional proof system. This paper connects these two problems with the existence of demi-bits generators, a fundamental cryptographic primitive against nondeterministic adversaries introduced by Rudich (RANDOM '97). - We show that the existence of demi-bits generators implies Avoid is hard for nondeterministic algorithms. This resolves an open problem raised by Chen and Li (STOC '24). Furthermore, assuming the demi-hardness of certain LPN-style generators or Goldreich’s PRG, we prove the hardness of Avoid even when the instances are constant-degree polynomials over 𝔽₂. - We show that the dual weak pigeonhole principle is unprovable in Cook’s theory PV₁ under the existence of demi-bits generators secure against AM/_{O(1)}, thereby separating Jeřábek’s theory APC₁ from PV₁. Previously, Ilango, Li, and Williams (STOC '23) obtained the same separation under different (and arguably stronger) cryptographic assumptions. - We transform demi-bits generators to proof complexity generators that are pseudo-surjective in certain parameter regime. Pseudo-surjectivity is the strongest form of hardness considered in the literature for proof complexity generators. Our constructions are inspired by the recent breakthroughs on the hardness of Avoid by Ilango, Li, and Williams (STOC '23) and Chen and Li (STOC '24). We use randomness extractors to significantly simplify the construction and the proof.
Cite as

Hanlin Ren, Yichuan Wang, and Yan Zhong. Hardness of Range Avoidance and Proof Complexity Generators from Demi-Bits. In 17th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2026). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 362, pp. 111:1-111:25, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2026)

Copy BibTex To Clipboard

@InProceedings{ren_et_al:LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.111,
  author =	{Ren, Hanlin and Wang, Yichuan and Zhong, Yan},
  title =	{{Hardness of Range Avoidance and Proof Complexity Generators from Demi-Bits}},
  booktitle =	{17th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2026)},
  pages =	{111:1--111:25},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-410-9},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2026},
  volume =	{362},
  editor =	{Saraf, Shubhangi},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.111},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-253982},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2026.111},
  annote =	{Keywords: Range Avoidance, Proof Complexity Generators}
}
Document
RANDOM
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.APPROX/RANDOM.2025.62
Avoiding Range via Turan-Type Bounds

Authors: Neha Kuntewar and Jayalal Sarma

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 353, Approximation, Randomization, and Combinatorial Optimization. Algorithms and Techniques (APPROX/RANDOM 2025)

Abstract
Given a circuit C : {0,1}^n → {0,1}^m from a circuit class 𝒞, with m > n, finding a y ∈ {0,1}^m such that ∀ x ∈ {0,1}ⁿ, C(x) ≠ y, is the range avoidance problem (denoted by C-Avoid). Deterministic polynomial time algorithms (even with access to NP oracles) solving this problem are known to imply explicit constructions of various pseudorandom objects like hard Boolean functions, linear codes, PRGs etc. Deterministic polynomial time algorithms are known for NC⁰₂-Avoid when m > n, and for NC⁰₃-Avoid when m ≥ n²/log n, where NC⁰_k is the class of circuits with bounded fan-in which have constant depth and the output depends on at most k of the input bits. On the other hand, it is also known that NC⁰₃-Avoid when m = n+O(n^{2/3}) is at least as hard as explicit construction of rigid matrices. In fact, algorithms for solving range avoidance for even NC⁰₄ circuits imply new circuit lower bounds. In this paper, we propose a new approach to solving the range avoidance problem via hypergraphs. We formulate the problem in terms of Turan-type problems in hypergraphs of the following kind: for a fixed k-uniform hypergraph H, what is the maximum number of edges that can exist in H_C, which does not have a sub-hypergraph isomorphic to H? We show the following: - We first demonstrate the applicability of this approach by showing alternate proofs of some of the known results for the range avoidance problem using this framework. - We then use our approach to show (using several different hypergraph structures for which Turan-type bounds are known in the literature) that there is a constant c such that Monotone-NC⁰₃-Avoid can be solved in deterministic polynomial time when m > cn². - To improve the stretch constraint to linear, more precisely, to m > n, we show a new Turan-type theorem for a hypergraph structure (which we call the loose X_{2ℓ}-cycles). More specifically, we prove that any connected 3-uniform linear hypergraph with m > n edges must contain a loose X_{2ℓ} cycle. This may be of independent interest. - Using this, we show that Monotone-NC⁰₃-Avoid can be solved in deterministic polynomial time when m > n, thus improving the known bounds of NC⁰₃-Avoid for the case of monotone circuits. In contrast, we note that efficient algorithms for solving Monotone-NC⁰₆-Avoid, already imply explicit constructions for rigid matrices. - We also generalise our argument to solve the special case of range avoidance for NC⁰_k where each output function computed by the circuit is the majority function on its inputs, where m > n².
Cite as

Neha Kuntewar and Jayalal Sarma. Avoiding Range via Turan-Type Bounds. In Approximation, Randomization, and Combinatorial Optimization. Algorithms and Techniques (APPROX/RANDOM 2025). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 353, pp. 62:1-62:21, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025)

Copy BibTex To Clipboard

@InProceedings{kuntewar_et_al:LIPIcs.APPROX/RANDOM.2025.62,
  author =	{Kuntewar, Neha and Sarma, Jayalal},
  title =	{{Avoiding Range via Turan-Type Bounds}},
  booktitle =	{Approximation, Randomization, and Combinatorial Optimization. Algorithms and Techniques (APPROX/RANDOM 2025)},
  pages =	{62:1--62:21},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-397-3},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2025},
  volume =	{353},
  editor =	{Ene, Alina and Chattopadhyay, Eshan},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.APPROX/RANDOM.2025.62},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-244281},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.APPROX/RANDOM.2025.62},
  annote =	{Keywords: circuit lower bounds, explicit constructions, range avoidance, linear hypergraphs, Tur\'{a}n number of hypergraphs}
}
Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.CCC.2025.35
How to Construct Random Strings

Authors: Oliver Korten and Rahul Santhanam

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 339, 40th Computational Complexity Conference (CCC 2025)

Abstract
We address the following fundamental question: is there an efficient deterministic algorithm that, given 1ⁿ, outputs a string of length n that has polynomial-time bounded Kolmogorov complexity Ω̃(n) or even n - o(n)? Under plausible complexity-theoretic assumptions, stating for example that there is an ε > 0 for which TIME[T(n)] ̸ ⊆ TIME^NP[T(n)^ε]/2^(εn) for appropriately chosen time-constructible T, we show that the answer to this question is positive (answering a question of [Hanlin Ren et al., 2022]), and that the Range Avoidance problem [Robert Kleinberg et al., 2021; Oliver Korten, 2021; Hanlin Ren et al., 2022] is efficiently solvable for uniform sequences of circuits with close to minimal stretch (answering a question of [Rahul Ilango et al., 2023]). We obtain our results by giving efficient constructions of pseudo-random generators with almost optimal seed length against algorithms with small advice, under assumptions of the form mentioned above. We also apply our results to give the first complexity-theoretic evidence for explicit constructions of objects such as rigid matrices (in the sense of Valiant) and Ramsey graphs with near-optimal parameters.
Cite as

Oliver Korten and Rahul Santhanam. How to Construct Random Strings. In 40th Computational Complexity Conference (CCC 2025). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 339, pp. 35:1-35:32, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025)

Copy BibTex To Clipboard

@InProceedings{korten_et_al:LIPIcs.CCC.2025.35,
  author =	{Korten, Oliver and Santhanam, Rahul},
  title =	{{How to Construct Random Strings}},
  booktitle =	{40th Computational Complexity Conference (CCC 2025)},
  pages =	{35:1--35:32},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-379-9},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2025},
  volume =	{339},
  editor =	{Srinivasan, Srikanth},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.CCC.2025.35},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-237290},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.CCC.2025.35},
  annote =	{Keywords: Explicit Constructions, Kolmogorov Complexity, Derandomization}
}
Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2025.2
Improved Lower Bounds for 3-Query Matching Vector Codes

Authors: Divesh Aggarwal, Pranjal Dutta, Zeyong Li, Maciej Obremski, and Sidhant Saraogi

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 325, 16th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2025)

Abstract
A Matching Vector (MV) family modulo a positive integer m ≥ 2 is a pair of ordered lists U = (u_1, ⋯, u_K) and V = (v_1, ⋯, v_K) where u_i, v_j ∈ ℤ_m^n with the following property: for any i ∈ [K], the inner product ⟨u_i, v_i⟩ = 0 mod m, and for any i ≠ j, ⟨u_i, v_j⟩ ≠ 0 mod m. An MV family is called r-restricted if inner products ⟨u_i, v_j⟩, for all i,j, take at most r different values. The r-restricted MV families are extremely important since the only known construction of constant-query subexponential locally decodable codes (LDCs) are based on them. Such LDCs constructed via matching vector families are called matching vector codes. Let MV(m,n) (respectively MV(m, n, r)) denote the largest K such that there exists an MV family (respectively r-restricted MV family) of size K in ℤ_m^n. Such a MV family can be transformed in a black-box manner to a good r-query locally decodable code taking messages of length K to codewords of length N = m^n. For small prime m, an almost tight bound MV(m,n) ≤ O(m^{n/2}) was first shown by Dvir, Gopalan, Yekhanin (FOCS'10, SICOMP'11), while for general m, the same paper established an upper bound of O(m^{n-1+o_m(1)}), with o_m(1) denoting a function that goes to zero when m grows. For any arbitrary constant r ≥ 3 and composite m, the best upper bound till date on MV(m,n,r) is O(m^{n/2}), is due to Bhowmick, Dvir and Lovett (STOC'13, SICOMP'14).In a breakthrough work, Alrabiah, Guruswami, Kothari and Manohar (STOC'23) implicitly improve this bound for 3-restricted families to MV(m, n, 3) ≤ O(m^{n/3}). In this work, we present an upper bound for r = 3 where MV(m,n,3) ≤ m^{n/6 +O(log n)}, and as a result, any 3-query matching vector code must have codeword length of N ≥ K^{6-o(1)}.
Cite as

Divesh Aggarwal, Pranjal Dutta, Zeyong Li, Maciej Obremski, and Sidhant Saraogi. Improved Lower Bounds for 3-Query Matching Vector Codes. In 16th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2025). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 325, pp. 2:1-2:19, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025)

Copy BibTex To Clipboard

@InProceedings{aggarwal_et_al:LIPIcs.ITCS.2025.2,
  author =	{Aggarwal, Divesh and Dutta, Pranjal and Li, Zeyong and Obremski, Maciej and Saraogi, Sidhant},
  title =	{{Improved Lower Bounds for 3-Query Matching Vector Codes}},
  booktitle =	{16th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2025)},
  pages =	{2:1--2:19},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-361-4},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2025},
  volume =	{325},
  editor =	{Meka, Raghu},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2025.2},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-226308},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.ITCS.2025.2},
  annote =	{Keywords: Locally Decodable Codes, Matching Vector Families}
}
Document
RANDOM
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.APPROX/RANDOM.2023.65
Range Avoidance for Constant Depth Circuits: Hardness and Algorithms

Authors: Karthik Gajulapalli, Alexander Golovnev, Satyajeet Nagargoje, and Sidhant Saraogi

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 275, Approximation, Randomization, and Combinatorial Optimization. Algorithms and Techniques (APPROX/RANDOM 2023)

Abstract
Range Avoidance (Avoid) is a total search problem where, given a Boolean circuit 𝖢: {0,1}ⁿ → {0,1}^m, m > n, the task is to find a y ∈ {0,1}^m outside the range of 𝖢. For an integer k ≥ 2, NC⁰_k-Avoid is a special case of Avoid where each output bit of 𝖢 depends on at most k input bits. While there is a very natural randomized algorithm for Avoid, a deterministic algorithm for the problem would have many interesting consequences. Ren, Santhanam, and Wang (FOCS 2022) and Guruswami, Lyu, and Wang (RANDOM 2022) proved that explicit constructions of functions of high formula complexity, rigid matrices, and optimal linear codes, reduce to NC⁰₄-Avoid, thus establishing conditional hardness of the NC⁰₄-Avoid problem. On the other hand, NC⁰₂-Avoid admits polynomial-time algorithms, leaving the question about the complexity of NC⁰₃-Avoid open. We give the first reduction of an explicit construction question to NC⁰₃-Avoid. Specifically, we prove that a polynomial-time algorithm (with an NP oracle) for NC⁰₃-Avoid for the case of m = n+n^{2/3} would imply an explicit construction of a rigid matrix, and, thus, a super-linear lower bound on the size of log-depth circuits. We also give deterministic polynomial-time algorithms for all NC⁰_k-Avoid problems for m ≥ n^{k-1}/log(n). Prior work required an NP oracle, and required larger stretch, m ≥ n^{k-1}.
Cite as

Karthik Gajulapalli, Alexander Golovnev, Satyajeet Nagargoje, and Sidhant Saraogi. Range Avoidance for Constant Depth Circuits: Hardness and Algorithms. In Approximation, Randomization, and Combinatorial Optimization. Algorithms and Techniques (APPROX/RANDOM 2023). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 275, pp. 65:1-65:18, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2023)

Copy BibTex To Clipboard

@InProceedings{gajulapalli_et_al:LIPIcs.APPROX/RANDOM.2023.65,
  author =	{Gajulapalli, Karthik and Golovnev, Alexander and Nagargoje, Satyajeet and Saraogi, Sidhant},
  title =	{{Range Avoidance for Constant Depth Circuits: Hardness and Algorithms}},
  booktitle =	{Approximation, Randomization, and Combinatorial Optimization. Algorithms and Techniques (APPROX/RANDOM 2023)},
  pages =	{65:1--65:18},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-296-9},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2023},
  volume =	{275},
  editor =	{Megow, Nicole and Smith, Adam},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.APPROX/RANDOM.2023.65},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-188901},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.APPROX/RANDOM.2023.65},
  annote =	{Keywords: Boolean function analysis, Explicit Constructions, Low-depth Circuits, Range Avoidance, Matrix Rigidity, Circuit Lower Bounds}
}
  • Refine by Type
  • 9 Document/PDF
  • 8 Document/HTML

  • Refine by Publication Year
  • 5 2026
  • 3 2025
  • 1 2023

  • Refine by Author
  • 2 Ren, Hanlin
  • 2 Saraogi, Sidhant
  • 2 Zhong, Yan
  • 1 Aggarwal, Divesh
  • 1 Chukhin, Nikolai
  • Show More...

  • Refine by Series/Journal
  • 9 LIPIcs

  • Refine by Classification
  • 4 Theory of computation → Circuit complexity
  • 2 Theory of computation → Complexity classes
  • 2 Theory of computation → Expander graphs and randomness extractors
  • 2 Theory of computation → Proof complexity
  • 2 Theory of computation → Pseudorandomness and derandomization
  • Show More...

  • Refine by Keyword
  • 2 Circuit Lower Bounds
  • 2 Explicit Constructions
  • 2 Range Avoidance
  • 1 Boolean function analysis
  • 1 Derandomization
  • Show More...

Any Issues?
X

Feedback on the Current Page

CAPTCHA

Thanks for your feedback!

Feedback submitted to Dagstuhl Publishing

Could not send message

Please try again later or send an E-mail
© 2023-2026 Schloss Dagstuhl – LZI GmbH Schloss Dagstuhl – LZI GmbH About DROPS Imprint Privacy Contact