arXiv subjects

Matthew Fox

Publications and source records attributed to Matthew Fox.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

The Code Distortion Problem

Two linear error-correcting codes $\cal{C}_1, \cal{C}_2 \subseteq \mathbb{F}_q^n$ are called linearly equivalent if there is a linear isometry mapping $\cal{C}_1$ to $\cal{C}_2$. In this work, we generalize the notion of linear equivalence and study the minimum distortion $\cal{D}(\cal{C}_1, \cal{C}_2)$ of a linear mapping between codes $\cal{C}_1, \cal{C}_2 \subseteq \mathbb{F}_q^n$, which quantifies how similar $\cal{C}_1$ and $\cal{C}_2$ are. We introduce and study the Code Distortion Problem (CDP), which asks to find a minimum distortion mapping between two input codes $\cal{C}_1$ and $\cal{C}_2$. CDP generalizes the Linear Code Equivalence Problem (LCE), which is essentially the special case of CDP where $\cal{D}(\cal{C}_1, C_2) = 1$ and which is well-studied because of its role in cryptography. We prove that (decisional) CDP is $\mathsf{NP}$-hard to approximate to within any constant factor, and that it is in $\Sigma_2^P$. We also give a single-exponential-time $k^2$-approximation algorithm for CDP, where $k$ is the dimension of the input codes. Furthermore, we give a single-exponential-time $\big(\frac{2k + 1}{3})^2$-approximation algorithm for a natural special case of CDP, and we show that our analysis is tight in this case. We use techniques from analogous work on the Lattice Distortion Problem (LDP) by Bennett, Dadush, and Stephens-Davidowitz (ESA, 2016). We also introduce or study a number of additional concepts that might be of independent interest. These include an adaptation of the celebrated reduction of Goldreich, Micciancio, Safra, and Seifert (IPL, 1999) from the Shortest Vector Problem (SVP) to the Closest Vector Problem (CVP) on lattices to the analogous problems on codes; successive minima bases for codes; and the matrix $0 \to 0$ "norm" on subspaces.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2026

Semiclassical Gravity Efficiently Solves $\mathsf{NP}$-Complete Problems

Assuming the gravitational field is classical and that it couples to quantum fields via the semiclassical Einstein field equations, we show that the weak-field dynamics of a massive and non-relativistic qubit can in principle be used to solve an $\mathsf{NP}$-complete problem in polynomial time. We attribute this vast computational power to the non-linear dynamics afforded by the semiclassical Einstein field equations. Consequently, the above two assumptions entail a violation of the Physical Extended Church--Turing Thesis, which we regard as evidence for the quantization of gravity.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2025

Bounds on Eventually Universal Quantum Gate Sets

Say a collection of $n$-qu$d$it gates $\Gamma$ is eventually universal if and only if there exists $N_0 \geq n$ such that for all $N \geq N_0$, one can approximate any $N$-qu$d$it unitary to arbitrary precision by a circuit over $\Gamma$. In this work, we improve the best known upper bound on the smallest $N_0$ with the above property. Our new bound is roughly $d^4n$, where $d$ is the local dimension (the `$d$' in qu$d$it), whereas the previous bound was roughly $d^8n$. For qubits ($d = 2$), our result implies that if an $n$-qubit gate set is eventually universal, then it will exhibit universality when acting on a $16n$ qubit system, as opposed to the previous bound of a $256n$ qubit system. In other words, if adding just $15n$ ancillary qubits to a quantum system (as opposed to the previous bound of $255 n$ ancillary qubits) does not boost a gate set to universality, then no number of ancillary qubits ever will. Our proof relies on the invariants of finite linear groups as well as a classification result for all finite groups that are unitary $2$-designs.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

A Criterion for Post-Selected Quantum Advantage

Assuming the polynomial hierarchy is infinite, we prove a sufficient condition for determining if uniform and polynomial size quantum circuits over a non-universal gate set are not efficiently classically simulable in the weak multiplicative sense. Our criterion exploits the fact that subgroups of $\mathrm{SL}(2;\mathbb{C})$ are essentially either discrete or dense in $\mathrm{SL}(2;\mathbb{C})$. Using our criterion, we give a new proof that both instantaneous quantum polynomial (IQP) circuits and conjugated Clifford circuits (CCCs) afford a quantum advantage. We also prove that both commuting CCCs and CCCs over various fragments of the Clifford group afford a quantum advantage, which settles two questions of Bouland, Fitzsimons, and Koh. Our results imply that circuits over just $(U^\dagger \otimes U^\dagger) \mathrm{CZ} (U \otimes U)$ afford a quantum advantage for almost all $U \in \mathrm{U}(2)$.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

A Refinement of the McCreight-Meyer Union Theorem

Using properties of Blum complexity measures and certain complexity class operators, we exhibit a total computable and non-decreasing function $t_{\mathsf{poly}}$ such that for all $k$, $\Sigma_k\mathsf{P} = \Sigma_k\mathsf{TIME}(t_{\mathsf{poly}})$, $\mathsf{BPP} = \mathsf{BPTIME}(t_{\mathsf{poly}})$, $\mathsf{RP} = \mathsf{RTIME}(t_{\mathsf{poly}})$, $\mathsf{UP} = \mathsf{UTIME}(t_{\mathsf{poly}})$, $\mathsf{PP} = \mathsf{PTIME}(t_{\mathsf{poly}})$, $\mathsf{Mod}_k\mathsf{P} = \mathsf{Mod}_k\mathsf{TIME}(t_{\mathsf{poly}})$, $\mathsf{PSPACE} = \mathsf{DSPACE}(t_{\mathsf{poly}})$, and so forth. A similar statement holds for any collection of language classes, provided that each class is definable by applying a certain complexity class operator to some Blum complexity class.

cs.CC↗

arXiv2024

On Formally Undecidable Traits of Intelligent Machines

Building on work by Alfonseca et al. (2021), we study the conditions necessary for it to be logically possible to prove that an arbitrary artificially intelligent machine will exhibit certain behavior. To do this, we develop a formalism like -- but mathematically distinct from -- the theory of formal languages and their properties. Our formalism affords a precise means for not only talking about the traits we desire of machines (such as them being intelligent, contained, moral, and so forth), but also for detailing the conditions necessary for it to be logically possible to decide whether a given arbitrary machine possesses such a trait or not. Contrary to Alfonseca et al.'s (2021) results, we find that Rice's theorem from computability theory cannot in general be used to determine whether an arbitrary machine possesses a given trait or not. Therefore, it is not necessarily the case that deciding whether an arbitrary machine is intelligent, contained, moral, and so forth is logically impossible.

cs.AI↗

arXiv2023

On a Weighted Series of the Hurwitz Zeta Function

In this note we prove that for all $a \in \mathbb{N}$, $x \in \mathbb{R}_+ \cup \{0\}$, and $s \in \mathbb{C}$ with $\Re(s) > a + 2$, the (alternating) weighted series of the Hurwitz zeta function, $$ \sum_{k \geq 1} (\pm 1)^k (k + x)^a\zeta(s,k + x), $$ resolves into a finite combination of Hurwitz (Lerch) zeta functions. This applies in Marichal and Zena\"idi's theory on analogues of the Bohr-Mollerup theorem for higher-order convex functions.

math.NT↗