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Revision #2 to TR14-045 | 13th January 2015 14:52

#### On the power of homogeneous depth 4 arithmetic circuits

Revision #2
Authors: Mrinal Kumar, Shubhangi Saraf
Accepted on: 13th January 2015 14:52
Keywords:

Abstract:

We prove exponential lower bounds on the size of homogeneous depth 4 arithmetic circuits computing an explicit polynomial in $VP$. Our results hold for the {\it Iterated Matrix Multiplication} polynomial - in particular we show that any homogeneous depth 4 circuit computing the $(1,1)$ entry in the product of $n$ generic matrices of dimension $n^{O(1)}$ must have size $n^{\Omega(\sqrt{n})}$.

Our results strengthen previous works in two significant ways.

Our lower bounds hold for a polynomial in $VP$. Prior to our work, Kayal et al [KLSS14] proved an exponential lower bound for homogeneous depth 4 circuits (over fields of characteristic zero) computing a poly in $VNP$. The best known lower bounds for a depth 4 homogeneous circuit computing a poly in $VP$ was the bound of $n^{\Omega(\log n)}$ by [KLSS, KLSS14]. Our exponential lower bounds also give the first exponential separation between general arithmetic circuits and homogeneous depth 4 arithmetic circuits. In particular they imply that the depth reduction results of Koiran [Koi12] and Tavenas [Tav13] are tight even for reductions to general homogeneous depth 4 circuits (without the restriction of bounded bottom fanin).

Our lower bound holds over all fields. The lower bound of [KLSS14] worked only over fields of characteristic zero. Prior to our work, the best lower bound for homogeneous depth 4 circuits over fields of positive characteristic was $n^{\Omega(\log n)}$ [KLSS, KLSS14].

Revision #1 to TR14-045 | 12th January 2015 17:54

#### On the power of homogeneous depth 4 arithmetic circuits

Revision #1
Authors: Mrinal Kumar, Shubhangi Saraf
Accepted on: 12th January 2015 17:54
Keywords:

Abstract:

We prove exponential lower bounds on the size of homogeneous depth 4 arithmetic circuits computing an explicit polynomial in $VP$. Our results hold for the {\it Iterated Matrix Multiplication} polynomial - in particular we show that any homogeneous depth 4 circuit computing the $(1,1)$ entry in the product of $n$ generic matrices of dimension $n^{O(1)}$ must have size $n^{\Omega(\sqrt{n})}$.

Our results strengthen previous works in two significant ways.

Our lower bounds hold for a polynomial in $VP$. Prior to our work, Kayal et al [KLSS14] proved an exponential lower bound for homogeneous depth 4 circuits (over fields of characteristic zero) computing a poly in $VNP$. The best known lower bounds for a depth 4 homogeneous circuit computing a poly in $VP$ was the bound of $n^{\Omega(\log n)}$ by [LSS, KLSS14]. Our exponential lower bounds also give the first exponential separation between general arithmetic circuits and homogeneous depth 4 arithmetic circuits. In particular they imply that the depth reduction results of Koiran [Koi12] and Tavenas [Tav13] are tight even for reductions to general homogeneous depth 4 circuits (without the restriction of bounded bottom fanin).

Our lower bound holds over all fields. The lower bound of [KLSS14] worked only over fields of characteristic zero. Prior to our work, the best lower bound for homogeneous depth 4 circuits over fields of positive characteristic was $n^{\Omega(\log n)}$ [LSS, KLSS14].

Changes to previous version:

Updated a reference

### Paper:

TR14-045 | 7th April 2014 23:02

#### On the power of homogeneous depth 4 arithmetic circuits

TR14-045
Authors: Mrinal Kumar, Shubhangi Saraf
Publication: 7th April 2014 23:19
Keywords:

Abstract:

We prove exponential lower bounds on the size of homogeneous depth 4 arithmetic circuits computing an explicit polynomial in $VP$. Our results hold for the {\it Iterated Matrix Multiplication} polynomial - in particular we show that any homogeneous depth 4 circuit computing the $(1,1)$ entry in the product of $n$ generic matrices of dimension $n^{O(1)}$ must have size $n^{\Omega(\sqrt{n})}$.

Our results strengthen previous works in two significant ways.

Our lower bounds hold for a polynomial in $VP$. Prior to our work, Kayal et al [KLSS14] proved an exponential lower bound for homogeneous depth 4 circuits (over fields of characteristic zero) computing a poly in $VNP$. The best known lower bounds for a depth 4 homogeneous circuit computing a poly in $VP$ was the bound of $n^{\Omega(\log n)}$ by [LSS, KLSS14]. Our exponential lower bounds also give the first exponential separation between general arithmetic circuits and homogeneous depth 4 arithmetic circuits. In particular they imply that the depth reduction results of Koiran [Koi12] and Tavenas [Tav13] are tight even for reductions to general homogeneous depth 4 circuits (without the restriction of bounded bottom fanin).

Our lower bound holds over all fields. The lower bound of [KLSS14] worked only over fields of characteristic zero. Prior to our work, the best lower bound for homogeneous depth 4 circuits over fields of positive characteristic was $n^{\Omega(\log n)}$ [LSS, KLSS14].

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