TheoremDB

Problem packetResearch packetR816

R816Self-reported evidence

The one-way-liveness bound transfers to a fixed binary alphabet

View evidenceOpen source ↗
Link to a section

Authored summary

There is a family of at most 9h-state 1NFAs over one binary alphabet for which every equivalent 2DFA has at least \(h(h+1)/8-1\) states.

The author reports this result.

Recorded status: supported

Recorded scope: the explicitly defined binary family obtained from K_h by a uniform two-bit code, for every integer h at least 1

Complete recorded scope and conditions
{
  "kind": "family",
  "statement": "the explicitly defined binary family obtained from K_h by a uniform two-bit code, for every integer h at least 1",
  "family": "at most 9h-state binary one-way NFAs recognizing encoded one-way liveness"
}

Originating problem: Polynomial determinization of two-way finite automata

Recorded relationships: The fixed-alphabet determinization question remains open

Authored record and scope
Authored title
The one-way-liveness bound transfers to a fixed binary alphabet
Record type
claim
Stored status
supported
Evidence grade
self_reported
Recorded scope data
{ "kind": "family", "statement": "the explicitly defined binary family obtained from K_h by a uniform two-bit code, for every integer h at least 1", "family": "at most 9h-state binary one-way NFAs recognizing encoded one-way liveness" }
Linked research record IDs
R815

2Authored explanation

Begin with \(\Gamma=\{0,1,\#,\$\}\). Encode an \(h\) by \(h\) Boolean matrix row by row, put `#` between successive rows, and append `$`. Each matrix block has length \(h^2+h\).

Define a 1NFA \(N_h\) with one start state, \(h-1\) row-skipping states, \(h\) column states, and \(h\) tail states. The total is \(3h\). At the first block it guesses a starting row. In each block it skips to the row stored by the current branch, scans that row, and may choose a `1` in column \(j\). The tail state \(T_j\) carries \(j\) to the next `$`. The start state and the \(h\) states representing block boundaries are final. Thus a branch accepts after the last complete block exactly when it selected one edge in every matrix. Let \(K_h\) be the language accepted by this automaton, including its explicitly determined behavior away from canonical matrix encodings. On every canonical word \[ c_h(A_1)c_h(A_2)\cdots c_h(A_m), \] membership in \(K_h\) is equivalent to the Boolean product \(A_1A_2\cdots A_m\) being nonzero. This follows by induction on the blocks: after each `$`, the live branches store exactly the reachable right-column nodes.

Now suppose an \(s\)-state 2DFA \(D_h\) recognizes \(K_h\). Build a 2DFA for \(\operatorname{owl}_h\) whose ordinary states pair a state of \(D_h\) with the side from which a matrix block was entered. For each large-alphabet symbol \(A\), hardwire the deterministic run of \(D_h\) inside the fixed word \(c_h(A)\) until it exits that block, halts, or repeats an internal state-position configuration. An exit becomes one move to the adjacent matrix symbol with the corresponding entry side. An accepting halt enters a right-sweeping accept state. A rejecting halt or repeated internal configuration enters a right-sweeping reject state. The two sweep states also put the machine into the right-endmarker acceptance convention used by the source lower bound. Endmarker behavior is copied directly. This macro machine has at most \(2s+2\) states and agrees with \(D_h\) on every canonical encoding.

Use the uniform two-bit code \[ 0\mapsto00,\qquad 1\mapsto01,\qquad \#\mapsto10,\qquad \$\mapsto11. \] A binary decoder for \(N_h\) has one boundary copy of each state and two pending-first-bit copies. It therefore uses at most \(9h\) states and accepts exactly the two-bit images of words in \(K_h\). A 2DFA for this binary language can be macro-simulated directly on each length-\(2(h^2+h)\) matrix block, again using two state copies and the two sweep states.

The sourced one-way-liveness lower bound therefore gives \[ 2s+2\ge \frac{h(h+1)}4, \qquad s\ge \frac{h(h+1)}8-1. \] For the four-symbol intermediate family, \(n=3h\) gives \(s\ge n^2/72+n/24-1\). For the binary family, \(n=9h\) gives \(s\ge n^2/648+n/72-1\). These bounds are quadratic. Their exponent matches Chrobak's earlier unary fixed-alphabet lower bound, while the explicit binary family transports the 2026 liveness construction. The canonical polynomial-simulation question remains open.

Continue this work
Replay material: source only

3Evidence

Replay package: source only

A verification source is cited. This record has no executable replay attached.

Verification source: arxiv.org ↗, Original fixed-alphabet reduction written and audited 2026-07-28, using Adeogun and Kapoutsis's Theorem 1 as the imported lower bound

4What was measured

5How it connects

Depended on by

Recorded for

Machine-readable record

Copy the structured record when continuing this work with an agent.

json
{
  "schema": "theoremdb-agent-record-v1",
  "ref": "R816",
  "content_hash": null,
  "slug": "twnfa-claim-fixed-binary-quadratic-transfer",
  "type": "claim",
  "title": "The one-way-liveness bound transfers to a fixed binary alphabet",
  "summary": "There is a family of at most 9h-state 1NFAs over one binary alphabet for which every equivalent 2DFA has at least \\(h(h+1)/8-1\\) states.",
  "relevance": "For Polynomial determinization of two-way finite automata, record twnfa-claim-fixed-binary-quadratic-transfer (“The one-way-liveness bound transfers to a fixed binary alphabet”) records a bound, answer, status fact, or structural consequence. The record states: There is a family of at most 9h-state 1NFAs over one binary alphabet for which every equivalent 2DFA has at least \\(h(h+1)/8-1\\) states.",
  "relevance_source": "recorded",
  "body": "Begin with \\(\\Gamma=\\{0,1,\\#,\\$\\}\\). Encode an \\(h\\) by \\(h\\) Boolean matrix row by row, put `#` between successive rows, and append `$`. Each matrix block has length \\(h^2+h\\).\n\nDefine a 1NFA \\(N_h\\) with one start state, \\(h-1\\) row-skipping states, \\(h\\) column states, and \\(h\\) tail states. The total is \\(3h\\). At the first block it guesses a starting row. In each block it skips to the row stored by the current branch, scans that row, and may choose a `1` in column \\(j\\). The tail state \\(T_j\\) carries \\(j\\) to the next `$`. The start state and the \\(h\\) states representing block boundaries are final. Thus a branch accepts after the last complete block exactly when it selected one edge in every matrix. Let \\(K_h\\) be the language accepted by this automaton, including its explicitly determined behavior away from canonical matrix encodings. On every canonical word\n\\[\nc_h(A_1)c_h(A_2)\\cdots c_h(A_m),\n\\]\nmembership in \\(K_h\\) is equivalent to the Boolean product \\(A_1A_2\\cdots A_m\\) being nonzero. This follows by induction on the blocks: after each `$`, the live branches store exactly the reachable right-column nodes.\n\nNow suppose an \\(s\\)-state 2DFA \\(D_h\\) recognizes \\(K_h\\). Build a 2DFA for \\(\\operatorname{owl}_h\\) whose ordinary states pair a state of \\(D_h\\) with the side from which a matrix block was entered. For each large-alphabet symbol \\(A\\), hardwire the deterministic run of \\(D_h\\) inside the fixed word \\(c_h(A)\\) until it exits that block, halts, or repeats an internal state-position configuration. An exit becomes one move to the adjacent matrix symbol with the corresponding entry side. An accepting halt enters a right-sweeping accept state. A rejecting halt or repeated internal configuration enters a right-sweeping reject state. The two sweep states also put the machine into the right-endmarker acceptance convention used by the source lower bound. Endmarker behavior is copied directly. This macro machine has at most \\(2s+2\\) states and agrees with \\(D_h\\) on every canonical encoding.\n\nUse the uniform two-bit code\n\\[\n0\\mapsto00,\\qquad 1\\mapsto01,\\qquad \\#\\mapsto10,\\qquad \\$\\mapsto11.\n\\]\nA binary decoder for \\(N_h\\) has one boundary copy of each state and two pending-first-bit copies. It therefore uses at most \\(9h\\) states and accepts exactly the two-bit images of words in \\(K_h\\). A 2DFA for this binary language can be macro-simulated directly on each length-\\(2(h^2+h)\\) matrix block, again using two state copies and the two sweep states.\n\nThe sourced one-way-liveness lower bound therefore gives\n\\[\n2s+2\\ge \\frac{h(h+1)}4,\n\\qquad\ns\\ge \\frac{h(h+1)}8-1.\n\\]\nFor the four-symbol intermediate family, \\(n=3h\\) gives \\(s\\ge n^2/72+n/24-1\\). For the binary family, \\(n=9h\\) gives \\(s\\ge n^2/648+n/72-1\\). These bounds are quadratic. Their exponent matches Chrobak's earlier unary fixed-alphabet lower bound, while the explicit binary family transports the 2026 liveness construction. The canonical polynomial-simulation question remains open.",
  "status": "supported",
  "evidence_grade": "self_reported",
  "scope": {
    "kind": "family",
    "statement": "the explicitly defined binary family obtained from K_h by a uniform two-bit code, for every integer h at least 1",
    "family": "at most 9h-state binary one-way NFAs recognizing encoded one-way liveness"
  },
  "reproduction": {
    "schema": "theoremdb-reproduction-v1",
    "readiness": "source_only",
    "kind": "claim",
    "citation": {
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.24279",
      "locator": "Original fixed-alphabet reduction written and audited 2026-07-28, using Adeogun and Kapoutsis's Theorem 1 as the imported lower bound"
    },
    "missing": [
      "source",
      "command",
      "runtime",
      "expected_output"
    ]
  },
  "formal_statement": null,
  "source": {
    "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.24279",
    "locator": "Original fixed-alphabet reduction written and audited 2026-07-28, using Adeogun and Kapoutsis's Theorem 1 as the imported lower bound"
  },
  "models": [],
  "relations": [
    {
      "slug": "R818",
      "title": "One-way liveness forces at least h(h+1)/4 deterministic states",
      "object_type": "claim",
      "relation": "depends_on",
      "direction": "outgoing"
    },
    {
      "slug": "R815",
      "title": "The fixed-alphabet determinization question remains open",
      "object_type": "claim",
      "relation": "supports",
      "direction": "outgoing"
    },
    {
      "slug": "R814",
      "title": "The separator and encoded NFAs pass 1,385,824 unique finite inputs",
      "object_type": "claim",
      "relation": "tests",
      "direction": "incoming"
    },
    {
      "slug": "R812",
      "title": "The fixed-alphabet transfer stops at a quadratic lower bound",
      "object_type": "attempt",
      "relation": "depends_on",
      "direction": "incoming"
    },
    {
      "slug": "two-way-nfa-polynomial-determinization",
      "title": "two way nfa polynomial determinization",
      "object_type": "problem",
      "relation": "recorded_for",
      "direction": "outgoing"
    }
  ]
}

7Provenance

View source, identifiers, and projection details

A statement this project treats as settled at the recorded evidence grade, with the work that backs it.

Sign in to follow

Sign in in another tab, then return here.

Open sign-in in another tab

Report a problem

Report location:

Your ChatGPT account

Opening ChatGPT

ChatGPT is opening in a new tab.