English

Equivariant algorithms for constraint satisfaction problems over coset templates

Logic in Computer Science 2016-04-06 v3

Abstract

We investigate the Constraint Satisfaction Problem (CSP) over templates with a group structure, and algorithms solving CSP that are equivariant, i.e. invariant under a natural group action induced by a template. Our main result is a method of proving the implication: if CSP over a coset template T is solvable by an equivariant algorithm then T is 2-Helly (or equivalently, has a majority polymorphism). Therefore bounded width, and definability in fixed-point logics, coincide with 2-Helly. Even if these facts may be derived from already known results, our new proof method has two advantages. First, the proof is short, self-contained, and completely avoids referring to the omitting-types theorems. Second, it brings to light some new connections between CSP theory and descriptive complexity theory, via a construction similar to CFI graphs.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1412.4020,
  title  = {Equivariant algorithms for constraint satisfaction problems over coset templates},
  author = {Sławomir Lasota},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1412.4020},
  year   = {2016}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-22T07:29:16.860Z