Is the Standard Proof System for SAT P-Optimal?

Abstract

We investigate the question whether there is a (p-)optimal proof system for SAT or for TAUT and its relation to completeness and collapse results for nondeterministic function classes. A p-optimal proof system for SAT is shown to imply (1) that there exists a complete function for the class of all total nondeterministic multi-valued functions and (2) that any set with an optimal proof system has a p-optimal proof system. By replacingthe assumption of the mere existence of a (p-) optimal proof system by the assumption that certain proof systems are (p-)optimal we obtain stronger consequences, namely collapse results for various function classes. Especially we investigate the question whether the standard proof system for SAT is p-optimal. We show that this assumption is equivalent to a variety of complexity theoretical assertions studied before, and to the assumption that every optimal proof system is p-optimal. Finally, we investigate whether there is an optimal proof system for TAUT that admits an effective interpolation, and show some relations between various completeness assumptions.KeywordsTuring MachineProof SystemComplete FunctionSatisfying AssignmentPromise ClassThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.