An SoS Entropy Dichotomy via Windowed Hypercontractivity

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Author: Lela, Marko
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Lela, Marko
author_facet Lela, Marko
contents We prove an entropy versus degree dichotomy for low-degree tests and the Sum-of-Squares (SoS) hierarchy on a calibrated window after a gadget layer. For a target distribution \(μ\) and a product-like proxy \(u\), we study the low-degree discrepancy \(Δ_k(μ,u)\), defined as the optimal distinguishing advantage of degree \(\le k\) polynomial tests. Using a bias-orthonormal Walsh basis and a test-moment equivalence on the window, we relate \(Δ_k\) (up to constants) to the squared \(\ell_2\) mass of signed low-degree moments. Calibrated pseudoexpectations match \(u\) on all moments of degree \(\le k\), hence test discrepancy equals SoS pseudoexpectation deviation. Under bias, product, and width assumptions along a switching path, a windowed Bonami--Beckner inequality yields hypercontractive tail bounds. Combining these with moment matching, we obtain a discrepancy-to-degree theorem: if \(Δ_k(μ,u) \ge n^{-β}\), then any polynomial-calculus or SoS refutation separating \(μ\) from \(u\) requires degree \(Ω(k)\). Instantiating \(k = c \log n\) gives an explicit \(Ω(\log n)\) SoS degree lower bound whenever \(Δ_k \ge n^{-η}\). All constants are explicit and depend only on calibrated window parameters. This work provides the SoS/low-degree core and complements a prior calibration blueprint; a companion paper lifts the windowed statements to full distribution families.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2509_24280
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle An SoS Entropy Dichotomy via Windowed Hypercontractivity
Lela, Marko
Computational Complexity
Primary 68Q17, Secondary 03F20, 06E30, 68Q25
F.1.3; F.1.2; F.2.2; G.3
We prove an entropy versus degree dichotomy for low-degree tests and the Sum-of-Squares (SoS) hierarchy on a calibrated window after a gadget layer. For a target distribution \(μ\) and a product-like proxy \(u\), we study the low-degree discrepancy \(Δ_k(μ,u)\), defined as the optimal distinguishing advantage of degree \(\le k\) polynomial tests. Using a bias-orthonormal Walsh basis and a test-moment equivalence on the window, we relate \(Δ_k\) (up to constants) to the squared \(\ell_2\) mass of signed low-degree moments. Calibrated pseudoexpectations match \(u\) on all moments of degree \(\le k\), hence test discrepancy equals SoS pseudoexpectation deviation. Under bias, product, and width assumptions along a switching path, a windowed Bonami--Beckner inequality yields hypercontractive tail bounds. Combining these with moment matching, we obtain a discrepancy-to-degree theorem: if \(Δ_k(μ,u) \ge n^{-β}\), then any polynomial-calculus or SoS refutation separating \(μ\) from \(u\) requires degree \(Ω(k)\). Instantiating \(k = c \log n\) gives an explicit \(Ω(\log n)\) SoS degree lower bound whenever \(Δ_k \ge n^{-η}\). All constants are explicit and depend only on calibrated window parameters. This work provides the SoS/low-degree core and complements a prior calibration blueprint; a companion paper lifts the windowed statements to full distribution families.
title An SoS Entropy Dichotomy via Windowed Hypercontractivity
topic Computational Complexity
Primary 68Q17, Secondary 03F20, 06E30, 68Q25
F.1.3; F.1.2; F.2.2; G.3
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.24280