Lower time bounds for randomized computation

Abstract

It is a fundamental problem in the randomized computation how to separate different randomized time or randomized space classes (c.f., e.g., [KV87, KV88]). We have separated randomized space classes below log n in [FK94]. Now we have succeeded to separate small randomized time classes for multi-tape 2-way Turing machines. Surprisingly, these “small” bounds are of type n + f(n) with f(n) not exceeding linear functions. This new approach to “sublinear” time complexity is a natural counterpart to sublinear space complexity. The latter was introduced by considering the input tape and the work tape as separate devices and distinguishing between the space used for processing information and the space used merely to read the input word from. Likewise, we distinguish between the time used for processing information and the time used merely to read the input word.