We present an algorithm which computes the multilinear factors of bivariate lacunary polynomials. It is based on a new Gap theorem which allows to test whether P(X)=∑kj=1 αjXαj(1+X)βjis identically zero in polynomial time. The algorithm we obtain is more elementary than the one by Kaltofen and Koiran (ISSAC'05) since it relies on the valuation of polynomials of the previous form instead of the height of the coefficients. As a result, it can be used to find some linear factors of bivariate lacunary polynomials over a field of large finite characteristic in probabilistic polynomial time.

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Polynomial identity testing and arithmetic circuit lower bounds are two central questions in algebraic complexity theory. It is an intriguing fact that these questions are actually related. One of the authors of the present paper has recently proposed a "real {\tau}-conjecture" which is inspired by this connection. The real {\tau}-conjecture states that the number of real roots of a sum of products of sparse univariate polynomials should be polynomially bounded. It implies a superpolynomial lower bound on the size of arithmetic circuits computing the permanent polynomial. In this paper we show that the real {\tau}-conjecture holds true for a restricted class of sums of products of sparse polynomials. This result yields lower bounds for a restricted class of depth-4 circuits: we show that polynomial size circuits from this class cannot compute the permanent, and we also give a deterministic polynomial identity testing algorithm for the same class of circuits.

We deploy algebraic complexity theoretic techniques for constructing symmetric determinantal representations of weakly-skew circuits, which include formulas. Our representations produce matrices of much smaller dimensions than those given in the convex geometry literature when applied to polynomials having a concise representation (as a sum of monomials, or more generally as an arithmetic formula or a weakly-skew circuit). These representations are valid in any field of characteristic different from 2. In characteristic 2 we are led to an almost complete solution to a question of Buergisser on the VNP-completeness of the partial permanent. In particular, we show that the partial permanent cannot be VNP-complete in a finite field of characteristic 2 unless the polynomial hierarchy collapses.

We study the following decision problem: is the language recognized by a quantum finite automaton empty or nonempty? We prove that this problem is decidable or undecidable depending on whether recognition is defined by strict or nonstrict thresholds. This result is in contrast with the corresponding situation for probabilistic finite automata, for which it is known that strict andnonstrict thresholds both lead to undecidable problems.

Résumé Soit f une fonction de N dans N qui ne soit pas calculable en temps polynomial, et a un élément d'un corps differentiel K de caractéristique nulle. Nous appelons probleme des grandes puissances l'ensembledes uples = (x1…..xn) de K telsque x1 = af(n) et problème des grandes racines l'ensemble des uples de K tels que . Ce sont deux exemples de problèmes que l'utilisation de la dérivée ne permet pas de résoudre plus rapidement. Nous montrons que le problème des grandes racines n'est pas polynomial au sens des corps differentiels, même si nous autorisons un nombre polynomial de paramètres. et que le problème des grandes puissances n'est pas polynomial au sens des corps differentiels. même au niveau non uniforme. Les démonstrations utilisent la stabilité polynomial de la théorie des corps de caractéristique nulle. montrée par L. Blum, F. dicker. M. Shub et S. Smale, ainsi que le lemme de réduction qui permet de ramener un polynôme differentiel des variables a un polynôme des variables et de leurs dérivées.

Abstract A notion of complexity for an arbitrary structure was defined in the book of Poizat Les petits cailloux (1995): we can define P and NP problems over a differential field K. Using the Witness Theorem of Blum et al., we prove the P-stability of the theory of differential fields: a P problem over a differential field K is still P when restricts to a sub-differential field k of K. As a consequence, if P = NP over some differentially closed field K, then P = NP over any differentially closed field and over any algebraically closed field.