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 search problem determined by a propositional proof system : given a -proof of a disjunction , no two having an atom in common, find such that . We formulate a hypothesis (ST) that for some strong proof system the problem is not solvable in the student-teacher model with a -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 . 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}
}