Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

Jin-Yi Cai

Publications and source records attributed to Jin-Yi Cai.

58 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

On Tractable Exponential Sums

We consider the problem of evaluating certain exponential sums. These sums take the form $\sum_{x_1,...,x_n \in Z_N} e^{f(x_1,...,x_n) {2 πi / N}} $, where each x_i is summed over a ring Z_N, and f(x_1,...,x_n) is a multivariate polynomial with integer coefficients. We show that the sum can be evaluated in polynomial time in n and log N when f is a quadratic polynomial. This is true even when the factorization of N is unknown. Previously, this was known for a prime modulus N. On the other hand, for very specific families of polynomials of degree \ge 3, we show the problem is #P-hard, even for any fixed prime or prime power modulus. This leads to a complexity dichotomy theorem - a complete classification of each problem to be either computable in polynomial time or #P-hard - for a class of exponential sums. These sums arise in the classifications of graph homomorphisms and some other counting CSP type problems, and these results lead to complexity dichotomy theorems. For the polynomial-time algorithm, Gauss sums form the basic building blocks. For the hardness results, we prove group-theoretic necessary conditions for tractability. These tests imply that the problem is #P-hard for even very restricted families of simple cubic polynomials over fixed modulus N.

cs.CC↗

From Holant To #CSP And Back: Dichotomy For Holant$^c$ Problems

We explore the intricate interdependent relationship among counting problems, considered from three frameworks for such problems: Holant Problems, counting CSP and weighted H-colorings. We consider these problems for general complex valued functions that take boolean inputs. We show that results from one framework can be used to derive results in another, and this happens in both directions. Holographic reductions discover an underlying unity, which is only revealed when these counting problems are investigated in the complex domain $\mathbb{C}$. We prove three complexity dichotomy theorems, leading to a general theorem for Holant$^c$ problems. This is the natural class of Holant problems where one can assign constants 0 or 1. More specifically, given any signature grid on $G=(V,E)$ over a set ${\mathscr F}$ of symmetric functions, we completely classify the complexity to be in P or #P-hard, according to ${\mathscr F}$, of \[\sum_{σ: E \rightarrow \{0,1\}} \prod_{v\in V} f_v(σ\mid_{E(v)}),\] where $f_v \in {\mathscr F} \cup \{{\bf 0}, {\bf 1}\}$ ({\bf 0}, {\bf 1} are the unary constant 0, 1 functions). Not only is holographic reduction the main tool, but also the final dichotomy can be only naturally stated in the language of holographic transformations. The proof goes through another dichotomy theorem on boolean complex weighted #CSP.

cs.CC↗

Robust Reductions

We continue the study of robust reductions initiated by Gavalda and Balcazar. In particular, a 1991 paper of Gavalda and Balcazar claimed an optimal separation between the power of robust and nondeterministic strong reductions. Unfortunately, their proof is invalid. We re-establish their theorem. Generalizing robust reductions, we note that robustly strong reductions are built from two restrictions, robust underproductivity and robust overproductivity, both of which have been separately studied before in other contexts. By systematically analyzing the power of these reductions, we explore the extent to which each restriction weakens the power of reductions. We show that one of these reductions yields a new, strong form of the Karp-Lipton Theorem.

cs.CC↗