Randomness-Efficient Sampling within NC1

Abstract

We construct a randomness-efficient averaging sampler that is computable by uniform constant-depth circuits with parity gates (i.e., in uniform AC 0[⊕]). Our sampler matches the parameters achieved by random walks on constant-degree expander graphs, allowing us to apply a variety expander-based techniques within NC 1. For example, we obtain the following results: Our sampler is based on the zig-zag graph product of Reingold, Vadhan & Wigderson (Annals of Math 2002) and as part of our analysis we givean elementary proof of a generalization of Gillman’s Chernoff Bound for Expander Walks (SIAM Journal on Computing 1998).