Computer Science/Discrete Mathematics Seminar I

A Zero-Knowledge PCP Theorem

Two central results in modern complexity theory can be summed up as follows:

  1. Everything provable is provable in zero knowledge (NP  CZK); and
  2. Everything provable is locally checkable (NP = PCP[log n, 1]).

In a pair of recent works, we show how to achieve these two properties simultaneously: Everything provable is locally checkable in zero knowledge.

That is, we demonstrate that for every polynomial Q, every NP language has a polynomial-size proof which can be verified by querying O(1) positions, but where querying any Q(n) positions reveals no information about the witness.

Based on joint work with Tom Gur and Jack O'Connor.


Date & Time

March 17, 2025 | 10:30am – 11:30am

Location

Simonyi Hall 101 and Remote Access

Speakers

Nicholas Spooner, Cornell University