Seminars

Feb
03
2015

Computer Science/Discrete Mathematics Seminar II

Dimension expanders via rank condensers
10:30am|S-101

Expander graphs are sparse graphs with good connectivity properties and they have become ubiquitous in theoretical computer science. Dimension expanders are a linear-algebraic variant where we ask for a constant number of linear maps that expand...

Feb
02
2015

Computer Science/Discrete Mathematics Seminar I

On monotonicity testing and boolean isoperimetric type theorems
11:15am|S-101

We show a directed and robust analogue of a boolean isoperimetric type theorem of Talagrand. As an application, we give a monotonicity testing algorithm that makes $\tilde{O}(\sqrt{n}/\epsilon^2)$ non-adaptive queries to a function $f:\{0,1\}^n...

Jan
26
2015

Computer Science/Discrete Mathematics Seminar I

Publicly-verifiable non-interactive arguments for delegating computation
11:15am|S-101

We construct publicly verifiable non-interactive arguments that can be used to delegate polynomial time computations. These computationally sound proof systems are completely non-interactive in the common reference string model. The verifier’s...

Jan
20
2015

Computer Science/Discrete Mathematics Seminar II

Small value parallel repetition for general games
Ankit Garg
10:30am|S-101

We prove a parallel repetition theorem for general games with value tending to 0. Previously Dinur and Steurer proved such a theorem for the special case of projection games. Our proofs also extend to the high value regime (value close to 1) and...

Dec
09
2014

Computer Science/Discrete Mathematics Seminar II

More on sum-of-squares proofs for planted clique
10:30am|S-101

While this talk is a continuation of the one I gave on Tue Nov 25, it will be planned as an independent one. I will not assume knowledge from that talk, and will reintroduce that is needed. (That first lecture gave plenty of background material, and...

Dec
08
2014

Computer Science/Discrete Mathematics Seminar I

Area Laws and the Complexity of Quantum States
Umesh Vazirani
11:15am|Simonyi Hall, Room 101

One of the great challenges posed by the laws of quantum mechanics is that the number of parameters required to describe a quantum state in general grows exponentially in the number of particles. This complexity is directly related to the phenomenon...

Dec
08
2014

Computer Science/Discrete Mathematics Seminar I

Area Laws and the complexity of quantum states
Umesh Vazirani
11:15am|S-101

One of the great challenges posed by the laws of quantum mechanics is that the number of parameters required to describe a quantum state in general grows exponentially in the number of particles. This complexity is directly related to the phenomenon...

Dec
02
2014

Computer Science/Discrete Mathematics Seminar II

Taming the hydra: the Word Problem, Dehn functions, and extreme integer compression
10:30am|S-101

For a finitely presented group, the Word Problem asks for an algorithm which declares whether or not words on the generators represent the identity. The Dehn function is the time-complexity of a direct attack on the Word Problem by applying the...

Dec
01
2014

Computer Science/Discrete Mathematics Seminar I

Parallel Repetition From Fortification
11:15am|S-101

The Parallel Repetition Theorem upper-bounds the value of a repeated (tensored) two prover game in terms of the value of the base game and the number of repetitions. In this work we give a simple transformation on games -- "fortification" -- and...