English

On $NP \cap coNP$ proof complexity generators

Computational Complexity 2026-05-13 v5 Logic

Abstract

Motivated by the theory of proof complexity generators we consider the following Σ2p\Sigma^p_2 search problem \mboxDDP\mbox{DD}_P determined by a propositional proof system PP: given a PP-proof π\pi of a disjunction iαi\bigvee_i {\alpha}_i, no two αi\alpha_i having an atom in common, find ii such that αi\mboxTAUT\alpha_i \in \mbox{TAUT}. We formulate a hypothesis (ST) that for some strong proof system PP the problem \mboxDDP\mbox{DD}_P is not solvable in the student-teacher model with a pp-time student and a constant number of rounds. The hypothesis follows from the existence of hard one-way permutations. We prove, using a model-theoretic assumption, that (ST) implies NPcoNPNP \neq coNP. The assumption concerns the existence of extensions of models of a bounded arithmetic theory and it is open at present if it holds.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2506.20221,
  title  = {On $NP \cap coNP$ proof complexity generators},
  author = {Jan Krajicek},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2506.20221},
  year   = {2026}
}
R2 v1 2026-07-01T03:32:40.337Z