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QMA Verification and Local Hamiltonian

1 · Prerequisites

2 · Summary

This page defines QMA verifiers over the QC14 full-list uniform circuit model, with an explicit witness register, zero-initialized verifier workspace, and an acceptance effect obtained by compression to the witness. It proves entangled-witness parallel amplification by an operator moment bound. It then proves matrix-encoded fixed-locality Hamiltonian membership through generated finite-arity measurements and circuit uniformization.

The hardness route constructs the unary-clock Feynman–Kitaev history Hamiltonian and proves its path gap, endpoint penalties, geometric soundness bound, and 5-locality. The 2-local route follows KKR’s four successive restrictions: legal unary clocks, one-qubit propagation, controlled-phase propagation, and initialized inputs. Each restriction has its own norm and penalty budget. Rational local entries and promise thresholds are produced with an explicit inverse-polynomial gap.

3 · Logical flowchart

4 · Definitions, theorems and proofs

DefinitionDefinition: Literature-sourcedProof: Not applicableOpen item page →

Effective finite matrix encodings for local Hamiltonians

Definition

A finite-dimensional complex matrix input of dimension d is effectively encoded if its complete binary description specifies d and conforms to one fixed deterministic entry-approximation machine. Given the description, an entry index, and unary precision request 1p, that machine returns rational real and imaginary parts within 2−p of the exact entry in time bounded by one fixed polynomial in the total description length plus p, uniformly over all valid encodings. Rational entries use their exact binary numerator and denominator; algebraic entries use a finite encoding compatible with this same evaluator and bound. A uniform matrix family has one fixed deterministic algorithm which, given the unary family index 1n and any explicitly encoded family parameters, outputs the complete description of that member in time bounded by one fixed polynomial in n plus the parameter length, uniformly over all valid indices and parameters. Hermiticity, dimensions, and norm bounds are promises on the exact matrices, not conclusions inferred from a finite approximation.

This interface includes finite output size and all approximation bit costs. It does not supply a matrix oracle, exact comparisons on arbitrary computable reals, or a free unitary implementation.

LemmaStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedjudge pass (gpt-6-luna)Open item page →

Bernstein approximation to the square root

Statement

For each integer d≥1, the degree-d Bernstein polynomial Bd(x)=∑j=0dj/d(dj)xj(1−x)d−j satisfies sup⁡x∈[0,1]∣Bd(x)−x∣≤(4d)−1/4. Consequently degree d≥1/(4η4) suffices for uniform error at most η>0.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: An integer d≥1 and x∈[0,1].

[F1]

The binomial theorem over an arbitrary commutative ring: ∑j(dj)xj(1−x)d−j=1.

[F2]

The binomial coefficients count subsets (The set [A]k of k-element subsets and the binomial coefficient (nk):=∣[n]k∣). For 1≤j≤d, counting pairs (S,a) with ∣S∣=j and a∈S gives j(dj)=d(d−1j−1). For d≥2 and 2≤j≤d, counting triples (S,a,b) with ∣S∣=j and an ordered pair of distinct marked elements gives j(j−1)(dj)=d(d−1)(d−2j−2).

Proof

1.1givenF1F2algebra

Regard the nonnegative weights pj=(dj)xj(1−x)d−j as a finite distribution. [F1] gives ∑jpj=1. Reindexing the first count in [F2] gives EK=∑jjpj=dx. For d≥2, reindexing the second count gives E[K(K−1)]=∑jj(j−1)pj=d(d−1)x2; for d=1 this expectation is 0=d(d−1)x2 directly. Since K2=K(K−1)+K, it follows that E(K/d−x)2=x(1−x)/d≤1/(4d).

2.1F3step 1.1algebra∎

Since ∣u−v∣≤∣u−v∣ for u,v≥0, [F3] gives E∣K/d−x∣≤E∣K/d−x∣ and E∣K/d−x∣≤E(K/d−x)2. Therefore ∣Bd(x)−x∣≤(E(K/d−x)2)1/4≤(4d)−1/4. The bound is uniform in x, and solving (4d)−1/4≤η gives the stated degree choice.

LemmaStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedjudge pass (gpt-6-luna)Open item page →

Polar correction of a near-unitary matrix

Statement

Let U be unitary on a nonzero finite-dimensional complex inner-product space and let M be an endomorphism with ∥M−U∥≤ε≤1/8. Then M is invertible and its polar unitary Q=M(M∗M)−1/2 satisfies ∥Q−U∥≤2ε. The inverse square root is defined by the positive spectral square root. When M has effectively computable entries in fixed dimension, the inverse square root also has an effective matrix approximation: expand (I+X)−1/2 at X=M∗M−I, whose norm is less than 1/2, and truncate the absolutely convergent binomial series.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: A finite-dimensional space, a unitary U, and ∥M−U∥≤ε≤1/8.

Proof

1.1givenF2algebra

For every vector v, ∥Mv∥≥∥Uv∥−∥(M−U)v∥≥(1−ε)∥v∥. Thus M is injective and hence bijective in finite equal dimension. The eigenvalues of M∗M are σj2, where each singular value obeys 1−ε≤σj≤1+ε by the triangle inequality and [F2].

2.1F1step 1.1algebra∎

By [F1], define (M∗M)−1/2 by applying the positive scalar inverse-square-root to its positive eigenvalues. Then Q∗Q=I, so Q is unitary; moreover the singular-value decomposition, obtained by diagonalizing M∗M, gives ∥Q−M∥=max⁡j∣1−σj∣≤ε. Consequently ∥Q−U∥≤∥Q−M∥+∥M−U∥≤2ε. Finally, X=M∗M−I has norm at most 2ε+ε2≤17/64<1/2; the binomial series for (I+X)−1/2 converges absolutely in operator norm, and its geometric tail bound gives effective truncations from effective entries of M.

LemmaStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedprecheck passjudge pass (gpt-6-luna)Open item page →

Projection lemma for a large penalty

Statement

Let H be a nonzero finite-dimensional complex inner-product space and let S⊆H be a nonzero subspace. Let H1,H2 be Hermitian endomorphisms, with H2∣S=0 and ⟨H2v,v⟩≥J∥v∥2 for every v∈S⊥, where J>2∥H1∥. Write λS=λmin⁡(H1∣S). Then

λS−∥H1∥2J−2∥H1∥≤λmin⁡(H1+H2)≤λS.

Here H1∣S is the compression PSH1PS on S, where PS is orthogonal projection. Assume S≠{0} so that λS is defined. If S⊥={0}, the lower spectral hypothesis is vacuous and the conclusion reduces to equality.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: A finite-dimensional complex-inner-product space H, a nonzero subspace S, Hermitian maps H1,H2, and the penalty and norm hypotheses in the Statement.

Proof

1.1givenF1choose

Set K=∥H1∥. By [F1], the Hermitian compression H1∣S has a unit eigenvector u∈S with eigenvalue λS. Since H2u=0, its Rayleigh quotient for H1+H2 is λS, so λmin⁡(H1+H2)≤λS.

1.2givenF1choosealgebra

If S⊥={0}, then S=H and H2=0, so the conclusion is equality. Otherwise both S and S⊥ are nonzero. For a unit vector x∈H, write x=αu+βw with u∈S, w∈S⊥ unit and α,β≥0, α2+β2=1; absorb the phases into u,w. If either component of x is zero, choose any unit vector in its nonzero subspace for the unused direction. Self-adjointness of H2 and H2∣S=0 make its cross terms zero, so ⟨H2x,x⟩≥Jβ2. Also ⟨H1u,u⟩≥λS, ⟨H1w,w⟩≥−K, and ∣⟨H1u,w⟩∣≤K.

2.1step 1.2algebra

Expanding the quadratic form and using λS≥−K gives ⟨(H1+H2)x,x⟩≥λS+(J−2K)β2−2Kβ. Indeed the S-diagonal term is α2⟨H1u,u⟩≥α2λS=λS−β2λS≥λS−Kβ2, the S⊥ term is at least −Kβ2, and α≤1 bounds the cross term below by −2Kβ.

3.1F1step 2.1algebra∎

The scalar quadratic (J−2K)β2−2Kβ has minimum −K2/(J−2K) by completing the square. Thus every unit Rayleigh quotient is at least λS−K2/(J−2K); [F1] identifies the least eigenvalue with the minimum Rayleigh quotient. This proves the lower bound.

LemmaStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedjudge pass (gpt-6-luna)Open item page →

Dense normalized one-qubit Clifford–T package

Statement

Use the exact one-qubit matrices H and T=diag⁡(1,eiπ/4) of Exact one-qubit gates and rotations. The matrices h=iH and t=e−iπ/8T, together with their inverses, are determinant-one representatives in SU(2). Their generated subgroup is dense in SU(2). Replacing each normalized letter in a word by its underlying physical H,T,T† letter changes the product only by one scalar phase, so an unconditional one-qubit circuit can approximate every SU(2) target up to an irrelevant global phase. A normalized letter must not be placed under a control without correcting its scalar phase.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The exact one-qubit H,T matrices and the dense-projective Clifford–T result.

[F1]

Clifford+T Is Dense Projectively on One Qubit: h=iH and t=e−iπ/8T lie in SU(2) and generate a dense subgroup there.

[F2]

Exact one-qubit gates and rotations: H and T have their displayed exact phases; a scalar phase is part of a matrix when it is controlled.

Proof

1.1F2algebra

Direct determinants give det⁡(iH)=i2det⁡(H)=1 because det⁡(H)=−1, and det⁡(e−iπ/8T)=e−iπ/4eiπ/4=1. Unitarity is preserved by unit-modulus scalars, so h,t∈SU(2).

2.1F1F2algebra∎

Density of the group generated by h,t is [F1]. For any fixed finite word, replacing each normalized generator by its physical gate multiplies the whole word by the product of the corresponding scalar phases, which is a single scalar on the entire one-qubit subcircuit. Such a scalar does not affect any outcome probability when the subcircuit is applied unconditionally. If the word is controlled, this scalar acts only on the active control block and is therefore not irrelevant; the statement explicitly excludes that use without correction.

DefinitionDefinition: Literature-sourcedProof: Not applicableOpen item page →

Encoded k-local Hamiltonian promise problem

Definition

Fix an integer k≥1. An encoded instance of input length N gives n,m≥1, with n polynomially bounded in N and m polynomially bounded in n. For each term it lists a support set Sj⊆{0,…,n−1} of size rj≤k and a Hermitian 2rj×2rj matrix Hj in the computational basis of those qubits, ordered by increasing index in Sj. It also gives a positive rational polynomial bound B with ∥Hj∥≤B for every exact term. Matrix descriptions and their approximation procedures use Effective finite matrix encodings for local Hamiltonians. Embed each term as Hj on the factors indexed by Sj in increasing order and the identity on every other qubit, and put H=∑j=1mHj on (C2)⊗n. Given rational thresholds a<b with b−a≥1/p(n) for a polynomial p, the promise problem has YES instances when λmin⁡(H)≤a and NO instances when λmin⁡(H)≥b. Inputs violating the format or promise are outside the promise; no behavior is required there. A matrix description is not a free measurement oracle: a verifier must generate every local test circuit from the finite encoding.

DefinitionDefinition: Literature-sourcedProof: Not applicableOpen item page →

Uniform verifier interface with a quantum witness

Definition

For an input length n, let Xn=Qn be the ordered classical-input register, Wn=Qw(n) a witness register, and An=Qa(n) a zero-initialized workspace register; w(n),a(n) are polynomially bounded and zero qubits means the one-dimensional space C. A verifier family is one full-list uniform family of finite circuits on Xn⊗Wn⊗An, generated in polynomial time from 1n. The widths w(n) and a(n) must also be computed from 1n by one fixed polynomial-time algorithm. Equivalently, a fixed polynomial-time wrapper outputs the widths together with the full circuit description, whose circuit component is a valid full-list code; the register metadata does not alter that code or its measured wire indices. Its gate order and unitary denotation are those of Full-list uniform quantum circuit family, Finite circuit syntax and ordered wire labels, and Denotational semantics of a finite layered circuit. The first register holds the classical basis input ∣x⟩, the witness may be any density operator ρ on Wn, and the workspace qubits start in ∣0a(n)⟩. Thus this definition adds an explicit quantum witness register to the classical-input, zero-ancilla promise-computation convention of Finite quantum promise-computation model; a witness is not an initialized ancilla. The workspace need not return to zero; the exact clean-return subroutine contract of Clean and dirty ancillas is a separate requirement when invoked.

Let On be the ordered tuple of distinct terminally measured wires. One fixed total polynomial-time algorithm evaluates the predicate Acc⁡n(x,z) and determines acceptance from the measured output string z. Let Jx:Wn→Xn⊗Wn⊗An be Jxψ=∣x⟩⊗ψ⊗∣0a(n)⟩, and let Px be the orthogonal projection onto all computational-basis output strings accepted by Acc⁡n(x,⋅), tensored with the identity on every unmeasured wire. Define the witness acceptance effect and its probability by

Ex:=Jx∗Un∗PxUnJx,pV(x,ρ):=Tr⁡(Exρ).

The projection Px sums over every unmeasured output wire. The positivity of this compression and its equality with the terminal outcome law are proved separately. The matrix input, gate list, generator, output predicate, and all circuit and classical costs are charged according to Circuit-family and computation cost model; no intermediate measurement or free random source is assumed in this base interface.

LemmaStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedOpen item page →

Effective synthesis of fixed-dimensional unitaries

Statement

Fix a nonnegative integer q and dimension D=2q, independent of input length. Given a D×D unitary whose entries have polynomial-time Cauchy names from a finite description and a rational 0<η<1/2, a deterministic polynomial-time procedure outputs a circuit on its q data wires, with a constant number of clean ancillas returned to zero, for which there is a unit scalar λ with ∥V−λU∥≤η. Writing b for the matrix-description length and ℓ(η) for the binary numerator/denominator encoding length of the rational tolerance, the procedure has bit cost polynomial in b+ℓ(η)+1/η and gate count polynomial in b+1/η. Scalar phase is immaterial only for this unconditional circuit. The construction uses complex Givens elimination with robust pivoting, a constant-width decomposition into unconditional one-qubit SU(2) rotations and CNOT gates, and the finite-precision compiler of Finite-Precision Bit Complexity of the SU(2) Solovay–Kitaev Compiler. Its exact reversible-control subconstruction gives Toffoli from H,T,T†,CNOT by the parity-phase identity in the proof.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: Fixed D=2q, an effectively encoded unitary U∈U(D), and rational 0<η<1/2.

[F1]

Effective finite matrix encodings for local Hamiltonians: each matrix entry has a deterministic polynomial-time Cauchy approximation procedure.

[F2]

Dense normalized one-qubit Clifford–T package: the normalized inverse-closed Clifford–T representatives are dense in SU(2).

[F3]

Finite-Precision Bit Complexity of the SU(2) Solovay–Kitaev Compiler: an SU(2) target supplied by a polynomial-time Cauchy name can be compiled over the fixed finite gate set to operator error ϵ for any rational 0<ϵ≤η0, where η0>0 is the fixed base-net radius; bit time includes reading the rational tolerance and is polynomial in its encoding length and the target precision parameters; word length is polynomial in log⁡(1/ϵ).

[F4]

Ordered tensor registers, their inner product, and wire permutations: the ordered tensor-register convention fixes computational-basis indices and factor order.

[F5]

One-Qubit Euler Decomposition: every SU(2) matrix is a product Rz(α)Ry(β)Rz(γ).

[F6]

CNOT and Control-Target Order: CNOT flips its target exactly when the named control is one.

[F7]

Fixed-Dimension Dyadic Matrix Routines Have Polynomial Bit Cost: fixed-dimensional sums, products, quotients with lower-bounded denominators, square roots, and matrix exponentials have polynomial-time Cauchy approximations.

[F8]

Two-Level Unitary: a two-level unitary acts by a stated 2×2 unitary block on two ordered basis vectors and by identity on their orthogonal complement.

[F9]

Exact one-qubit gates and rotations fixes the exact exponential definitions and phases of H,T,T†; One-Qubit Euler Decomposition derives the closed matrix forms for Rz and Ry used below.

[F10]

Circuit-family and computation cost model: gate count, wire count, and full-list generator time are separate circuit costs that must each be bounded.

Proof

1.1F1F4F6F7F8F9algebra

If D=1, output the empty circuit: the scalar 1×1 unitary is immaterial up to the allowed whole-circuit phase. Assume D≥2. Every Pauli-X requested anywhere in this construction is emitted as the QC14 word HT4H: the exact matrices in [F9] give T4=Z and HZH=X. First construct exact computational-basis transpositions for row pivoting. For bit strings x,y, flip their differing positions in order to form a Gray path g0=x,…,gd=y. The adjacent swap gj↔gj+1 is an X on their differing bit, controlled on the other q−1 fixed bits; for each control required to be 0, apply the same exact HT4H word to that control wire before computing the control conjunction (or before the one-control gate), then undo it after the controlled operation and any conjunction uncomputation. A conjunction of at least two controls is computed into clean bits by a chain of Toffoli gates, the target X is applied under the last conjunction bit, and the chain is reversed; with no controls use the same HT4H word, and with one positive control use CNOT. Toffoli is exact over the gate alphabet: for bits a,b,c, 4abc=a+b+c−(a⊕b)−(a⊕c)−(b⊕c)+(a⊕b⊕c). Compute each parity into a clean bit by CNOTs, apply T for positive terms and T† for negative terms, and uncompute; the resulting phase is (−1)abc. Conjugating the third bit by H gives Toffoli. The product of swaps along the path except its last edge, followed by the last swap and the reversed prefix, is exactly the transposition of x,y. In column j, earlier columns have already been made zero below row j, so the remaining tail has norm one by unitarity. Approximate its entry magnitudes to error at most 1/(8D) and choose the least row among those with largest approximate magnitude as pivot; the selected exact magnitude is at least 1/D−1/(4D)≥1/(2D). Move that row to j by the exact transposition just constructed, which preserves earlier zeros. For each lower entry b and pivot a, use the determinant-one Givens block r−1(aˉbˉ−ba), r=(∣a∣2+∣b∣2)1/2; direct multiplication sends (a,b)T to (r,0)T. The pivot remains bounded below, so every division is conditioned and no exact zero test is needed. Fixed dimension, [F7], and the pivot lower bound give polynomial-time Cauchy names for the Givens factors and a diagonal unitary remainder. If the recorded left multipliers are Q1,…,Qs, the terminal upper-triangular unitary is Δ=Qs⋯Q1U; its first column has only a unit-modulus first entry, orthogonality forces the rest of the first row to vanish, and induction on the trailing principal block shows Δ is diagonal. Hence U=Q1−1⋯Qs−1Δ, an exact factorization in reverse chronological application order.

2.1F4F5F6F7F8F9step 1.1algebra

Each Givens factor from step 1.1 is an SU(2) block on two basis strings x,y, in the two-level sense of [F8]. Flip their differing bit positions in order to form a Gray path g0=x,…,gd=y. Controlled-X gates on the other fixed bits swap gj,gj+1 for j<d−1; for the desired ordered block V, the final controlled one-qubit gate uses native block V when the differing target bit of gd−1 is 0, and XVX when that bit is 1. In the latter case the native target order is (y,gd−1), so conjugating by X gives precisely V in the required order (gd−1,y). Reversing the swaps therefore gives the exact ordered two-level action. Both possible native blocks remain in SU(2) and have polynomial-time Cauchy names. Every intermediate controlled-X is implemented by the conjunction and target construction of step 1.1, including the exact HT4H expansion for its target X. With middle block X, the same path conjugation is the exact basis transposition used in step 1.1. When q=1, the order-corrected native block is itself an unconditional one-qubit SU(2) gate. For q≥2, reduce each multi-control to one control by computing its q−1-bit conjunction into clean bits with the exact Toffoli gates from step 1.1 and then uncomputing. For a one-controlled SU(2) block, choose Rz(α)Ry(β)Rz(γ). For R=Rz or Ry, the chronological sequence “apply R(θ/2) to the target, CNOT, apply R(−θ/2) to the target, CNOT” has denotation CNOT⁡(I⊗R(−θ/2))CNOT⁡(I⊗R(θ/2)). On control 0 the two rotations cancel; on control 1, XR(−θ/2)X=R(θ/2) by the exact Ry,Rz matrices in [F9], so the active block is R(θ). This proves the controlled Euler product using only unconditional one-qubit rotations and CNOTs. The closed forms from [F9] give Rz(θ+4π)=Rz(θ) and Ry(θ+4π)=Ry(θ); reduce each Euler angle modulo 4π to a representative in [0,4π). For a candidate mesh angle θ∈[0,16] and a∈{y,z}, write Ra(θ)=eAa(θ) with Aa(θ)=−iθσa/2. Since ∥Aa(θ)/9∥≤8/9<1, the interval routine [F7] evaluates eAa(θ)/9 in its stated domain; multiplying nine such matrices evaluates Ra(θ), with guard precision chosen so each three-rotation product and target has certified Frobenius error at most η/(100CD). Put M=⌈1600CD/η⌉ and use the rational mesh {16j/M:0≤j≤M} in each coordinate. Since 4π<16, each reduced Euler angle is within 16/M≤η/(100CD) of a mesh point. The exact rotation formula gives ∥Ra(u)−Ra(v)∥≤∣u−v∣/2, so the product at one such mesh triple is within η/(8CD) of the target. For each candidate, compute a certified Frobenius-distance upper bound from the entry intervals; its square-root input is scaled by 1/9, since the squared distance between two 2×2 unitaries is at most 8, and then rescaled by 3. Select the first mesh product whose upper bound is at most η/(4CD); the guaranteed nearby mesh point passes because its true Frobenius distance is at most 2 η/(8CD) and the interval error is at most η/(100CD). Every selected product therefore has operator error at most η/(4CD). Here CD≥1 is a fixed upper bound for the total number of rotation factors requiring approximation, including the recursive diagonal construction described below; for example, for q≥1 take CD=max⁡{1,3D(D−1)+(D−1)(2q−1)}. The search uses O((CD/η)3) candidates and only rational interval comparisons, not an exact-real branch test.

3.1F4F6F7step 1.1algebra

Factor the diagonal remainder as Δ=d0diag⁡(1,(dz/d0)z≠0). Since ∣d0∣=1, every ratio d~z=dz/d0 is a unit scalar with a polynomial-time Cauchy name by [F7]: the denominator has the uniform lower bound one. For each z≠0, choose a bit position where z is one, compute the condition that all other bits match z, and apply diag⁡(1,d~z) to the chosen bit controlled by that condition; this phases ∣z⟩ and leaves its partner with chosen bit zero unchanged. If q=1 the condition is empty and the phase is unconditional. The common factor d0 is the single global scalar for the complete diagonal remainder. Approximate each d~z by scanning an M-point rational angle grid, with M≥16πD/η, and accept a grid point whose certified chordal distance is at most 4π/M; a nearest grid point is within π/M, so a valid one is found after O(M) evaluations using [F7]. Write its phase as eiθ. Implement a phase on a pattern of k original data bits by induction on k. For k=1, use diag⁡(1,eiθ)=eiθ/2Rz(θ) on that data bit (conjugated by exact X gates for pattern zero), retaining its scalar as a whole-circuit scalar. For k≥2, choose an original data target and compute the conjunction of the other k−1 original data controls with the exact Boolean circuits of step 1.1 (one control needs no workspace). Apply controlled Rz(θ) to the original target by the two target rotations and two CNOTs of step 2.1, and uncompute the conjunction immediately. For a signed pattern, conjugate the zero-valued controls by exact X gates before computing the conjunction and undo them immediately after uncomputing; conjugate a zero-valued target by X around the controlled rotation. Thus all data bits are restored to their original pattern coordinates before recursion. Apply, recursively, phase eiθ/2 on the matching pattern of the k−1 original control data bits. On a nonmatching control pattern both ideal operations are identity; on a matching one their product is eiθ/2Rz(θ)=diag⁡(1,eiθ) on the target, or its X-conjugate when the target pattern bit is zero. This proves the required pattern phase, up to just the base case's whole-circuit scalar. Crucially, every rotation is on an original data bit: no computed flag receives a rotation or an approximating word. Each conjunction block is uncomputed before recursion changes any of its data controls. Its clean bits therefore return exactly to zero even when arbitrary one-qubit words replace the target rotations, because those words and their controlling CNOTs never alter the conjunction inputs or flags. The same argument applies to the Givens blocks in step 2.1. The phase recursion uses b1=1, bk=bk−1+2=2k−1 one-qubit factors and O(k2) exact Boolean gates, reusing O(k) clean bits. Thus the diagonal remainder is implemented by unconditional rotations, CNOTs and the fixed conjunction circuits above, with total phase error at most η/4, since there are fewer than D entries and M≥16πD/η.

4.1F1F2F3F7F8F10step 2.1step 3.1algebra∎

All one-qubit rotations in step 2.1 and step 3.1 are unconditional factors. Compile their determinant-one matrices using [F2]–[F3]; any scalar phases from normalized Clifford–T letters then multiply the full circuit by a single global scalar, never a control block. Since D is fixed, take MD=CD, which also bounds the recursive phase factors. The accepted mesh approximations in step 2.1 contribute at most η/4 total error, and step 3.1 contributes at most η/4 for diagonal phases. For each factor request Solovay–Kitaev error min⁡{η/(2MD),η0}; this lies in the compiler's stated domain and is no larger than η/(2MD), so synthesis contributes at most η/2. After factoring out whole-circuit scalars, the telescoping identity bounds total operator error by the sum, at most η. The Givens pivots stay at least 1/(2D); the Euler mesh has O((CD/η)3) candidates and each diagonal phase grid has O(D/η) candidates, with fixed CD,D. Parse the binary numerator and denominator of η in O(ℓ(η)) time. The mesh sizes, rational comparisons, and compiler tolerances are computed by integer arithmetic on numbers of O(ℓ(η)+log⁡(1/η)+1) bits. The certified arithmetic precision is O(log⁡(1/η)+1); [F1] charges each target query polynomial time in b plus this precision, and [F3] also charges the encoding length of each derived tolerance. Thus all arithmetic and compiler bit time, including reading η and printing the full gate list, is polynomial in b+ℓ(η)+1/η. The number of rotation factors is fixed, and [F3] bounds each compiled word length polynomially in log⁡(1/η)+1, giving the claimed gate-count bound independent of the tolerance encoding length. In the coordinates of [F10], the output gate count and wire count are polynomial, as is the deterministic full-list generator time; the ancilla count is constant because q is fixed and the decompositions reuse O(q) work bits. Each compiled word acts only on original data wires; the exact Boolean compute/control/uncompute blocks return every work bit exactly to zero, so the resulting data operator V is well-defined with exact clean-ancilla return, not merely small workspace leakage.

LemmaStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedOpen item page →

Rational encoding preserves a promised local-Hamiltonian gap

Statement

Fix k and let H=∑j=1mHj be an encoded k-local Hamiltonian with m=poly⁡(n), local dimension at most D=2k, and algebraic entries supplied by polynomial-time Cauchy procedures. For every rational τ>0, a deterministic polynomial-time algorithm outputs rational Hermitian local matrices H~j with ∑j∥Hj−H~j∥≤τ. Consequently ∣λmin⁡(H)−λmin⁡(H~)∣≤τ. If the original promise thresholds are a<b with gap Δ=b−a, choose τ≤Δ/8 and output thresholds a+τ,b−τ; the mapped YES and NO instances remain on their respective promise sides with gap at least 3Δ/4. A concrete polynomial running-time conclusion requires the stated polynomial-time Cauchy bounds for each algebraic entry encoding.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The finite local matrices and encodings, fixed k, polynomial m, and rational τ>0.

[F1]

Effective finite matrix encodings for local Hamiltonians: each entry can be approximated by rational real and imaginary parts in polynomial bit time at requested precision.

[F2]

Complex spectral theorem: a normal endomorphism of a finite-dimensional complex inner product space has an orthonormal eigenbasis, and conversely: Hermitian matrices have finite orthonormal eigenbases and their least eigenvalue is the minimum unit Rayleigh quotient.

[F3]

The operator norm is 0 on the zero domain and otherwise equals the largest singular value, attained at a right-singular vector: the operator norm is the largest singular value and is bounded by the Frobenius norm.

[F4]

Encoded k-local Hamiltonian promise problem: the explicit instance has finitely many fixed-arity Hermitian terms whose sum defines the promised Hamiltonian.

Proof

1.1F1F3F4givenconstruct

Request each of the at most D2 entries of each Hj to absolute complex error at most τ/(2mD). Replace each entry by its rational approximation and symmetrize the matrix by (A+A∗)/2; this preserves rationality and Hermiticity, and does not increase the Frobenius error beyond the entrywise bound. The Frobenius norm of a D×D error matrix is at most D times its largest entry error, so [F3] gives ∥Hj−H~j∥≤τ/(2m). The precision request has O(log⁡(mD/τ)) bits beyond the input description and is computed in polynomial time by [F1]. The term list and common embedding are those of [F4].

2.1F2step 1.1algebra∎

Identity embedding preserves operator norm, so ∥H−H~∥≤∑j∥Hj−H~j∥≤τ/2≤τ. For each unit v, ∣⟨Hv,v⟩−⟨H~v,v⟩∣≤τ; taking minima over the same unit sphere in both directions and using [F2] yields ∣λmin⁡(H)−λmin⁡(H~)∣≤τ. If λmin⁡(H)≤a, then λmin⁡(H~)≤a+τ; if λmin⁡(H)≥b, then λmin⁡(H~)≥b−τ. Their new gap is Δ−2τ≥3Δ/4.

LemmaStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedOpen item page →

Uniform finite-arity local-energy measurement synthesis

Statement

Fix k. Let K be a Hermitian matrix on at most k qubits with rational or effectively encoded algebraic entries of bit length b, let B≥∥K∥ be a positive rational of bit length b, and set E=(I−K/B)/2. For any rational 0<η<1/2, a deterministic polynomial-time generator in b+ℓ(η)+1/η outputs a finite QC14 circuit with one flag bit whose measured outcome 1 has effect E~ satisfying ∥E~−E∥≤η. Let U0 be the Naimark block unitary of the proof and define Uacc=(Xflag⊗I)U0. The construction supplies polynomial-time Cauchy names for Uacc and a standalone dilation circuit whose unitary is within η/2, up to global phase, of Uacc. With one selector bit, Effective synthesis of fixed-dimensional unitaries compiles the full block diagonal matrix I⊕Uacc from those Cauchy names. Circuit size and generator bit time are polynomial in b+ℓ(η)+1/η, where ℓ(η) is the binary encoding length of the rational tolerance. No local matrix is treated as a free gate or oracle.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: Fixed k, encoded Hermitian K, rational B>0 with B≥∥K∥, and rational 0<η<1/2.

[F1]

Bernstein approximation to the square root: degree d≥1/(4δ4) Bernstein polynomials approximate x on [0,1] uniformly within δ.

[F2]

Polar correction of a near-unitary matrix: if ∥M−U∥≤ε≤1/8 for unitary U, the polar unitary Q satisfies ∥Q−U∥≤2ε.

[F3]

Effective synthesis of fixed-dimensional unitaries: a fixed-dimensional unitary with polynomial-time Cauchy entries can be compiled to operator error ζ up to a global scalar phase, with polynomial bit cost and size.

[F4]

Finite POVMs and their outcome law: measuring a two-outcome projective flag and ignoring the unmeasured data register yields the corresponding compressed effect on the input.

[F5]

Encoded k-local Hamiltonian promise problem: each local term is an effectively encoded finite Hermitian matrix on at most fixed k qubits.

Proof

1.1givenF5algebra

The effective encoding and fixed arity in [F5] give a fixed-dimensional matrix with computable entries. By Hermiticity and the norm bound, every eigenvalue λ of K/B lies in [−1,1]; hence the eigenvalues of E lie in [0,1]. The finite-dimensional spectral theorem therefore gives positive square roots S=E and R=I−E. The block matrix U0=U=(SRR−S) is unitary: S,R are commuting functions of E, S2+R2=I, and the off-diagonal products cancel. For input flag 0, its flag-0 block is S. Follow the dilation by X on the flag, so the accepted branch is labeled outcome 1; define the marked-accept dilation Uacc to be this full unitary. Its accepted effect is S∗S=E.

2.1F1F2step 1.1algebra

Choose degree d≥1/(4δ4) and use [F1] to form Bernstein polynomials Sd=Bd(E) and Rd=Bd(I−E). Functional calculus on the eigenbasis gives ∥Sd−S∥,∥Rd−R∥≤δ. Thus the block matrix M=(SdRdRd−Sd) satisfies ∥M−U∥≤2δ by the triangle inequality for its two block columns. Taking δ≤1/16 and applying [F2] gives an exactly unitary polar correction Q with ∥Q−U∥≤4δ.

2.2F5step 1.1algebra

Polynomial-time Cauchy names for the ideal dilation require a precision-polynomial construction. For A=E or I−E, put X0=I, Xj+1=(Xj+AXj−1)/2. On each eigenvalue a∈[0,1], the scalar iterate satisfies xj≥max⁡{a,2−j} and 0≤xj+1−a=(xj−a)2/(2xj)≤(xj−a)/2. Thus ∥Xj−A∥≤2−j and ∥Xj−1∥≤2j, even when a=0. For error 2−p, take m=p+3, approximate A once to operator error h=2−10(m+1)2, and round every iterate to dyadic entries with total operator rounding error at most h. If the iterate error is ej≤2−j−1, the inverse identity bounds inverse error by 22j+1ej and approximate inverse norm by 2j+1. Therefore ej+1≤22j+2ej+2j+1h+h. With e0=0, this gives ej≤22(m+1)2h for j≤m, smaller than 2−m and 2−j−1, so the bounds hold throughout. In fixed local dimension D, rational inversion by adjugate and determinant uses a fixed number of arithmetic operations; the approximate iterates have least singular value at least 2−j−1 and determinant modulus at least 2−D(j+1). Rounding after each iteration keeps all stored entries at OD(m2) bits. The m iterations and the input approximation consequently cost polynomial time in the encoding length and p. They supply polynomial-time Cauchy names for S,R and Uacc.

3.1F2F3F4step 2.1step 2.2algebra∎

Select δ≤η/16, and compile Q to a circuit with a phase representative V′ satisfying ∥V′−Q∥≤η/4 using [F3]. The accepted flag outcome effect of the physical circuit is E~=V00∗V00, where V00 is the flag-0 compression before the final X relabeling; the global scalar relating the physical unitary to V′ cancels in this effect. Compressions are contractions, so ∥E~−E∥≤∥V′∗P0V′−U∗P0U∥≤2∥V′−U∥≤2(η/4+4δ)≤η. The fixed dimension is at most 2k+1; Bernstein degree is O(η−4), and its coefficients and matrix products have polynomially many bits at the needed precision. The polar series and fixed-width synthesis also have polynomial generator cost by [F2]–[F3]. Step 2.2 supplies polynomial-time Cauchy entries for Uacc=(Xflag⊗I)U0, so the same fixed-dimensional synthesis applies to the block diagonal matrix I⊕Uacc after adding one selector bit. Thus no controlled operation is assumed without synthesis.

LemmaStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedOpen item page →

Uniform interpretation of an input-generated quantum circuit

Statement

Use the fixed QC14 alphabet {H,T,T†,CNOT}. Let M be one fixed deterministic polynomial-time classical machine that, on each binary input x of length n, outputs a valid circuit description Px of at most L(n) gate records on at most W(n) data wires, where L,W are fixed polynomials. Encode the output as exactly L(n) fixed-width records: each record is either blank, a one-qubit label H,T,T† with one wire address, or a CNOT label with an ordered pair of distinct wire addresses; unused address fields are zero. Let δ(n) be any inverse-polynomial rational tolerance produced by a fixed polynomial-time machine from 1n, with polynomial bit length. There is a full-list uniform QC14 family generated from 1n which on classical basis input x and data state ∣ψ⟩ outputs a state within operator error δ(n), up to a global scalar, of ∣x⟩⊗Px∣ψ⟩⊗∣M(x)⟩⊗∣0w⟩ for a polynomially bounded work width w(n). Its size and generator time are polynomial in n and 1/δ(n). The program and arithmetic registers are terminal unmeasured wires; their presence changes the data-register outcome law from executing Px by at most 2δ(n). This lemma converts a polynomial-time input-dependent compiler into the input-length-uniform verifier model.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The fixed machine M, the bounds L,W, its valid padded gate-record output, the polynomial-time rational tolerance δ(n), a classical basis input x, and a data state.

[F1]

Polynomial-time computations have logspace-uniform circuit families: each fixed polynomial-time Boolean computation has a polynomial-size logspace-uniform Boolean circuit family.

[F2]

Full-list uniform quantum circuit family: a QC14 family is generated from unary input length by a deterministic polynomial-time procedure that emits the complete gate list.

[F3]

Finite circuit syntax and ordered wire labels: the finite circuit syntax specifies ordered wires and gate operands.

[F4]

A logspace-uniform Boolean circuit family: a logspace-uniform circuit family has deterministic logarithmic-space SIZE, TYPE, predecessor, and output queries, so its polynomial-size records can be enumerated in polynomial time.

[F5]

Effective synthesis of fixed-dimensional unitaries: every fixed-dimensional unitary with polynomial-time Cauchy entries can be compiled over QC14 to any inverse-polynomial operator precision; its construction gives an exact Toffoli decomposition from H,T,T†,CNOT.

[F6]

Exact one-qubit gates and rotations: H,T,T† are the exact one-qubit gates of the QC14 alphabet.

[F7]

CNOT and Control-Target Order: CNOT flips its named target exactly when its named control is one.

[F8]

Circuit-family and computation cost model: gate count, wire count, and full-list generator time are separate circuit costs that must each be bounded.

Proof

1.1F1F2F3F4givenalgebra

Let r(n)=3+2⌈log⁡2max⁡{2,W(n)}⌉ be a fixed record width, with three type bits and two address fields, and let B(n)=L(n)r(n) be the padded program bit length. For each bit position 1≤i≤B(n), define a fixed polynomial-time machine M′(x,i) that runs M(x) and returns the ith bit of its padded record string. Apply [F1] to M′. The uniform generator can specialize the index input i to each constant 1,…,B(n), enumerate every Boolean gate record using [F4]'s logarithmic-space size/type/predecessor queries, and concatenate the B(n) circuits. The resulting multi-output Boolean circuit computes the entire gate program; it has polynomial size and is generated in polynomial time from 1n.

1.2F3F5F6F7algebra

Allocate one clean value wire per Boolean node and traverse the circuit's topological order. A constant zero leaves its target zero; a constant one applies X=HT4H; a NOT node writes 1⊕a by X followed by CNOT; an AND node writes ab into a zero target with Toffoli; and an OR node writes a⊕b⊕ab=a∨b with two CNOTs and one Toffoli. If both input ports name the same source, one CNOT copies that source for either AND or OR. Copy each designated circuit output into its separate program bit by CNOTs, then reverse all node computations to return their value wires to zero. The exact Toffoli circuit is supplied by [F5]'s construction.

2.1F3F5F6F7step 1.1algebra

For each record position t and each candidate gate/address tuple, compute into a clean condition bit the conjunction that all type and address fields match that tuple. Bitwise comparison uses X on negative controls and an AND tree of Toffoli gates; reverse it after the controlled operation. Apply the fixed controlled target I⊕G to this bit and the one or two selected data wires, where G is the candidate gate H,T,T†, or CNOT. The target dimension is at most 23 and its matrix is fixed, so [F5] produces a QC14 template with operator error ξ up to one global phase on the full target. For a valid record exactly one candidate condition is true; the exact product of all candidate templates at position t is therefore the specified gate, while a blank record applies identity.

3.1F2F4F5step 1.2step 2.1algebra

Put P0(n)=L(n)(3W(n)+W(n)(W(n)−1)) and P(n)=max⁡{1,P0(n)}; there are at most P0(n) candidate templates, including the case P0(n)=0. Choose ξ=δ(n)/(2P(n)). Each comparison and its inverse are exact, so conjugating a template error preserves its operator norm; the global phases of the templates multiply the entire unconditional interpreter by one scalar. Telescoping the P0(n) unitary replacements bounds the implemented program's operator error by P0(n)ξ≤δ(n)/2; when P0(n)=0 there are no replacements and the error is zero. The reversible program generator is exact on every basis input and leaves x unchanged; its program bits can be included among the terminal unmeasured wires. Thus the full circuit implements Px to error at most δ(n) for every classical x.

4.1F2F8step 3.1algebra∎

If two output unitaries differ by operator norm at most δ, then for every unit input vector their output vectors differ in norm by at most δ; for any accepting projection P, the acceptance probabilities differ by at most 2δ, since ∣⟨Pv,v⟩−⟨Pw,w⟩∣≤∥v−w∥(∥v∥+∥w∥)≤2δ. This also holds for mixed inputs by finite linearity. The polynomial bounds on L,W and 1/δ make the complete full-list generator and circuit size polynomial in the separate coordinates of [F8]. No nonstandard axiom is used.

LemmaStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedOpen item page →

A finite verifier induces an effect on its witness

Statement

For every verifier interface of Uniform verifier interface with a quantum witness, the compression Ex=Jx∗Un∗PxUnJx is a positive contraction on Wn. For every witness density operator ρ, its terminal acceptance probability, summed over every unmeasured wire, equals Tr⁡(Exρ)∈[0,1].

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The finite input and witness registers and zero-initialized workspace, circuit unitary Un, accepting output projection Px, and witness embedding Jx.

[F1]

Uniform verifier interface with a quantum witness: Jx embeds ψ as ∣x⟩⊗ψ⊗∣0a(n)⟩, Un is unitary, and Ex=Jx∗Un∗PxUnJx.

[F2]

The partial trace is characterized by the trace pairing and is basis-independent: Tr⁡(Tr⁡BR T)=Tr⁡(R(T⊗IB)) for finite tensor factors.

[F3]

For A∈Mm×n(F) and B∈Mn×m(F), tr⁡(AB)=tr⁡(BA): the finite matrix trace satisfies Tr⁡(AB)=Tr⁡(BA) for compatible rectangular matrices.

[F4]

POVM outcome weights are probabilities: for a density operator and a finite POVM, its weights Tr⁡(ρEa) are nonnegative and sum to one.

[F5]

Finite POVMs and their outcome law: a finite POVM has positive effects summing to identity, and its outcome weight on ρ is Tr⁡(ρEa).

[F6]

Partial trace over a finite tensor factor: the partial trace over a finite tensor factor is defined by summing equal-index matrix entries in the ordered product basis.

[F7]

Density operator: a density operator is nonnegative and has trace one on a nonzero finite-dimensional space.

Proof

1.1givenF1algebra

Put Q=UnJx. The input basis vector and clean zero state are unit vectors, so Jx is an isometry; Un is unitary, hence Q∗Q=I. Then Ex=Q∗PxQ and I−Ex=Q∗(I−Px)Q. For every v∈Wn, ⟨Exv,v⟩=⟨PxQv,Qv⟩=∥PxQv∥2≥0, and ⟨(I−Ex)v,v⟩=∥(I−Px)Qv∥2≥0. Therefore 0≤Ex≤I.

2.1step 1.1F4F5F7

For a density operator ρ, [F7] gives the state hypotheses for the two-outcome POVM (Ex,I−Ex) defined in [F5]. Applying [F4] gives Tr⁡(Exρ)∈[0,1].

3.1givenF1F2F3F5F6F7algebra∎

The post-circuit state is σ=Un(JxρJx∗)Un∗. By [F6] and the partial-trace identity [F2], the probability of the accepting projection on the named output register equals Tr⁡(Pxσ), where Px is the accepting projection tensored with identity on all unmeasured wires; [F5] gives this projective measurement outcome law. Cyclicity [F3] and finite matrix multiplication give Tr⁡(PxUnJxρJx∗Un∗)=Tr⁡(Jx∗Un∗PxUnJxρ)=Tr⁡(Exρ). The projection Px sums the probabilities over all unmeasured basis strings, so this is the stated terminal acceptance probability.

DefinitionDefinition: Literature-sourcedProof: Not applicableOpen item page →

QMA promise class with a verifier effect on witnesses

Definition

Let Π=(Y,N) be a promise problem, 0≤s(n)<c(n)≤1 efficiently encoded rational thresholds, and w(n),a(n) polynomially bounded witness and zero-initialized workspace lengths. Require c(n)−s(n)≥1/p(n) for some polynomially bounded positive p. Then Π∈QMA(c,s) if there is a full-list uniform verifier interface as in Uniform verifier interface with a quantum witness such that every x∈Y has a witness density operator ρ with Tr⁡(Exρ)≥c(∣x∣), and every x∈N and every witness density operator satisfy Tr⁡(Exρ)≤s(∣x∣). Behavior outside Y∪N is unrestricted. The standard bounded-error class uses c=2/3 and s=1/3. The effect and probability are well-defined by A finite verifier induces an effect on its witness.

AlgorithmAlgorithm: Literature-sourcedProof: Not applicableOpen item page →

QMA parallel repetition with a midpoint threshold

Definition

Inputs: A length-n verifier from Uniform verifier interface with a quantum witness, its classical basis input ∣x⟩ with ∣x∣=n, an r-block witness register, rational thresholds 0≤s<c≤1, and an integer r≥1. Each verifier has input register Xn, witness register Wn, zero-initialized workspace An, terminally measured tuple On, and total predicate Acc⁡n(x,z). The admissible parameters are those of the verifier's promise-class contract, with r polynomially bounded when polynomial resources are claimed.

Procedure: Partition the witness into r blocks W(1),…,W(r). Use the given input register as X(1), allocate r−1 fresh zero-initialized n-bit registers X(2),…,X(r), and for every bit position i and j=2,…,r, apply a CNOT from Xi(1) to Xi(j). Since x is a computational-basis string, this copies ∣x⟩ exactly and leaves every input register in ∣x⟩. Give each verifier copy its own fresh zero-initialized workspace and distinct output wires, then run its finite circuit on (X(j),W(j),A(j)). At termination measure each copy's tuple O(j) and evaluate Acc⁡n(x,zj) on that outcome. Let S be the number of copies whose predicate accepts. Output 1 exactly when

S≥⌈r(c+s)2⌉.

The rational midpoint and integer threshold are computed exactly from the binary encodings of c,s,r. The input-copy registers, verifier ancillas and output registers are separate across copies; no copy uses a shared quantum input register after the CNOT fanout. The acceptance predicate is evaluated separately on each copy's terminal outcome. Completeness and soundness for arbitrary joint witnesses, including witnesses entangled across the r blocks, are established in the separate entangled-witness amplification theorem.

DefinitionDefinition: Literature-sourcedProof: Not applicableOpen item page →

Feynman–Kitaev history Hamiltonian

Definition

Let a verifier circuit have T≥1 gates U1,…,UT, each acting on at most two computation qubits, with its accept/reject predicate reversibly computed into one output qubit (accept is ∣1⟩). Let N=T+1 and encode time t by the unary clock word ∣ct⟩=∣1t0T−t⟩ on T clock qubits. For an initial computation vector ϕ define its history vector ∣ηϕ⟩=N−1/2∑t=0T(Ut⋯U1ϕ)⊗∣ct⟩, where the t=0 product is I. Orthogonality of the clock words and unitarity give ∥ηϕ∥=∥ϕ∥; this history is normalized exactly when ∥ϕ∥=1. For each propagation edge t=1,…,T, let ∣pret⟩,∣postt⟩ be the local clock patterns which ct−1,ct have on their smallest common window: for T=1 these are 0,1 on C1; for T≥2,t=1 they are 00,10 on C1C2; for t=T they are 10,11 on CT−1CT; and for 1<t<T they are 100,110 on Ct−1CtCt+1. Define Hprop,t=12(I⊗∣pret⟩⟨pret∣+I⊗∣postt⟩⟨postt∣−Ut⊗∣postt⟩⟨pret∣−Ut∗⊗∣pret⟩⟨postt∣), where each clock ket is only on the displayed local window. For each local pre/post block, its quadratic form is one half the squared norm of the difference between the post component and Ut applied to the pre component, so it is positive semidefinite. On legal clock words these patterns identify exactly the adjacent times t−1,t. Put Hprop=∑tHprop,t. Define Hin=∑a∈A∣1⟩⟨1∣a⊗∣0⟩⟨0∣C1,Hout=N∣0⟩⟨0∣out⊗∣1⟩⟨1∣CT,Hclock=∑i=1T−1∣01⟩⟨01∣CiCi+1. Here A indexes initially zero verifier workspace qubits, and the output predicate is computed into the displayed accept qubit. The history Hamiltonian is the positive sum Hin+Hprop+Hout+Hclock. A propagation term uses at most two computation and three clock qubits; each other summand uses at most two qubits.

DefinitionDefinition: Literature-sourcedProof: Not applicableOpen item page →

QMA completeness under promise-preserving reductions

Definition

A promise problem is QMA-hard if every problem in QMA reduces to it by a deterministic polynomial-time many-one promise-preserving reduction. It is QMA-complete if it is QMA-hard and itself belongs to QMA. “Promise-preserving reduction” has the meaning of Promise preserving reduction; no behavior is required off the source promise.

TheoremStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedOpen item page →

A pure witness suffices for a QMA completeness threshold

Statement

For a finite QMA verifier with witness acceptance effect Ex, if a witness density operator ρ satisfies Tr⁡(Exρ)≥c, then some pure-state density operator ∣u⟩⟨u∣ satisfies Tr⁡(Ex∣u⟩⟨u∣)≥c. Thus allowing mixed witnesses does not increase the completeness threshold.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: A nonzero finite-dimensional witness space, a density operator ρ, and its positive contraction Ex from the verifier.

[F1]

Density operator: a density operator is nonnegative, self-adjoint, and has trace one.

[F3]

A finite verifier induces an effect on its witness: the acceptance probability of a witness density ρ is Tr⁡(Exρ) and 0≤Ex≤I.

[F4]

Dirac Notation Conversion: ∣u⟩⟨u∣ is the rank-one map v↦⟨v,u⟩u for a unit vector u.

[F5]

Trace is a linear functional on Mn(F): the finite-dimensional trace is linear.

[F6]

The basis-independent trace of an endomorphism of a finite-dimensional vector space: trace is independent of the chosen ordered basis and is the sum of diagonal entries in that basis.

[F7]

QMA promise class with a verifier effect on witnesses: on a YES instance the completeness threshold is witnessed by a density operator satisfying Tr⁡(Exρ)≥c.

Proof

1.1givenF1F2F4F6choosealgebra

By [F1]–[F2], choose an orthonormal eigenbasis u1,…,ud for ρ, with eigenvalues λj≥0. Basis independence [F6] and its diagonal-sum definition give ∑jλj=Tr⁡(ρ)=1. Thus ρ=∑jλj∣uj⟩⟨uj∣, with zero eigenvalue terms allowed.

2.1F3F4F5F6F7step 1.1algebra∎

Linearity [F5] gives Tr⁡(Exρ)=∑jλjTr⁡(Ex∣uj⟩⟨uj∣). By [F3], these terms are precisely the verifier's pure-state acceptance probabilities. By [F4], in an orthonormal basis beginning with uj, the rank-one factor has only its first diagonal entry nonzero after multiplication by Ex; [F6] therefore gives Tr⁡(Ex∣uj⟩⟨uj∣)=⟨Exuj,uj⟩. This is a convex average; if every positive-weight term were below c, its finite weighted average would be below c. Hence some j with λj>0 has acceptance at least c, so [F7] gives a pure witness meeting the QMA completeness threshold.

LemmaStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedOpen item page →

Propagation kernel and path-Laplacian gap

Statement

On the legal clock space spanned by ∣c0⟩,…,∣cT⟩, the propagation Hamiltonian of Feynman–Kitaev history Hamiltonian is unitarily conjugate to LT=12∑t=1T(∣t⟩−∣t−1⟩)(⟨t∣−⟨t−1∣) tensor the identity on computation space. Its kernel is the uniform clock vector, equivalently the valid computation histories, and its first positive eigenvalue is 1−cos⁡ ⁣(πT+1)≥2(T+1)2.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The ordered computation unitaries U1,…,UT and legal clock basis.

[F1]

Feynman–Kitaev history Hamiltonian: each propagation edge couples adjacent legal times with weight 1/2 and transports computation by Ut.

[F3]

Dirac Notation Conversion: ket-bra products and inner products use the stated root convention and matrix-adjoint correspondence.

Proof

1.1F1F3givenalgebra

Set V0=I and Vt=Ut⋯U1. The block diagonal map W=∑t=0TVt⊗∣ct⟩⟨ct∣ is unitary because every Vt is unitary and clock sectors are orthogonal. Conjugating an edge term by W replaces Ut in its off-diagonal block by Vt∗UtVt−1=I; its diagonal clock blocks remain unchanged. The ket-bra multiplications use the convention [F3]. Summing gives W∗HpropW=Icomp⊗LT. Thus the kernel consists of vectors constant across clock time, and undoing W gives exactly the history vectors ηϕ, normalized when ∥ϕ∥=1.

2.1F2step 1.1algebra

Put M=T+1. For j=0,…,M−1, the vector with coordinates vj(r)=cos⁡(πj(r+1/2)/M), r=0,…,M−1, is nonzero. The cosine addition identity verifies the interior eigenvalue equation for LT with eigenvalue 1−cos⁡(πj/M); the same identity with the endpoint degree-one rows verifies both endpoint equations. These M eigenvalues are distinct, so symmetry of LT makes the corresponding vectors orthogonal; by [F2] they form a full eigenbasis. The j=0 vector is constant and the smallest positive eigenvalue is the j=1 value.

3.1step 2.1algebra∎

For x∈[0,π/2], concavity of sine gives sin⁡x≥2x/π. Hence 1−cos⁡(π/M)=2sin⁡2(π/(2M))≥2/M2. This proves the stated gap and includes T=1 (M=2).

TheoremStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedOpen item page →

Parallel QMA amplification remains sound for entangled witnesses

Statement

Let a QMA verifier have completeness c and soundness s with 0≤s<c≤1, and put γ=c−s. For 0<δ<1, choose an integer

r≥2γ−2ln⁡(1/δ).

Then the parallel verifier of QMA parallel repetition with a midpoint threshold has completeness at least 1−δ and soundness at most δ. On a NO input its soundness bound holds for every joint r-block witness state, including entangled states. The repetition uses r witness blocks and r verifier copies, so choosing the least integer r satisfying the bound gives polynomial size when γ−1 and ln⁡(1/δ) are polynomially bounded. The probability bounds hold for every larger r as well.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: A finite verifier, a YES or NO promise input, r≥1 copies, 0≤s<c≤1, γ=c−s, and δ∈(0,1).

[F1]

A finite verifier induces an effect on its witness: a verifier's accept operator is an effect Ex and its acceptance probability on witness ρ is Tr⁡(Exρ).

[F2]

Tensor products of finitely many linear maps: tensor maps act factorwise on elementary tensors, and the ordered tensor registers retain the stated factor order (Ordered tensor registers, their inner product, and wire permutations).

[F3]

Chernoff bound for independent bernoulli trials: for independent Bernoulli trials with sum S and mean μ, each one-sided additive tail at deviation t≥0 is at most exp⁡(−2t2/r); its proof also establishes Eeu(X−p)≤eu2/8 for a single Bernoulli(p) variable and every real u.

[F4]

QMA promise class with a verifier effect on witnesses: on a YES input some witness has acceptance at least c, while on a NO input every witness state has acceptance at most s.

[F5]

The natural logarithm as the inverse of the exponential function: ln⁡ is the inverse of the positive real exponential on (0,∞).

[F6]

QMA parallel repetition with a midpoint threshold: the verifier runs r copies on distinct witness blocks and accepts when the number of accepts is at least ⌈r(c+s)/2⌉.

[F7]

Finite POVMs and their outcome law: the joint finite measurement is represented by tensor-product effects whose weights are obtained by the Born trace rule.

[F8]

POVM outcome weights are probabilities: the joint POVM outcome weights are nonnegative and sum to one.

Proof

1.1givenF1F2F3F4F6algebra

Put τ=(c+s)/2=s+γ/2. By [F6], the midpoint test accepts at ⌈rτ⌉. Its CNOT fanout prepares a separate register ∣x⟩ for every verifier copy from the classical basis input, and the outputs are evaluated using the same predicate Acc⁡n(x,⋅), so each block realizes the acceptance effect Ex of [F1]. On a YES input, choose a witness ρ with acceptance p≥c and give the product witness ρ⊗r. Each copy acts on a distinct input, witness and ancilla block, so its accept bit is an independent Bernoulli(p) variable by the product rule in [F2] and the finite POVM law. If the midpoint test rejects, then S<⌈rτ⌉, hence S<rτ and S−rp≤−rγ/2. The lower-tail inequality in [F3] bounds this event by exp⁡(−rγ2/2).

1.2givenF1F2F4F6F9algebra

Fix a NO input and any joint witness density σ on the r blocks. By the exact basis-state fanout in [F6], every verifier copy starts with its own fixed ∣x⟩ input and its own clean ancillas; hence its acceptance effect on its witness block is the same Ex from [F1]. On one block, [F1] and [F4] give ⟨Exv,v⟩≤s for every unit witness vector v; as Ex is an effect, this means 0≤Ex≤sI. Let Aj=I⊗⋯⊗Ex⊗⋯⊗I on the full r-block space. An eigenbasis of Ex from [F9], tensored with the other block bases, shows 0≤Aj≤sI. Distinct Aj act on distinct tensor factors, so they commute by [F2].

2.1givenF1F2F7F8F9step 1.2algebra

Define the full-space effects Bj,1=Aj and Bj,0=I−Aj. The joint outcome b∈{0,1}r has effect ∏jBj,bj on this same space: equivalently it is ⨂jCbj for the one-block effects C1=Ex, C0=I−Ex. This product/tensor identity follows on elementary tensors by [F2]. The finite POVM trace rule and normalization [F7]–[F8] therefore give, for t>0, EσetS=Tr⁡ ⁣(σ∑bet∣b∣∏jBj,bj)=Tr⁡ ⁣(σ∏j=1r(I+(et−1)Aj)). Each factor is positive and at most (1−s+set)I by step 1.2. In the product of the single-block eigenbases from [F9], their product is diagonal with entries bounded by (1−s+set)r, so the product is at most that scalar times identity. Taking its trace against the density σ gives EσetS≤(1−s+set)r, without any tensor product of full-space effects.

3.1F3step 2.1algebra

Apply the single-Bernoulli moment bound in [F3] with parameter s: e−ts(1−s+set)≤et2/8. Thus Eσet(S−rs)≤ert2/8. Since S≥⌈rτ⌉ implies S−rs≥rγ/2, the finite-sum Markov bound gives Pr⁡σ(S≥⌈rτ⌉)≤exp⁡(−trγ/2+rt2/8). Taking t=2γ makes this at most e−rγ2/2. No independence assumption is used for σ.

4.1givenF5F6step 1.1step 3.1algebra∎

The choice r≥2γ−2ln⁡(1/δ) gives e−rγ2/2≤δ on both promise sides by [F5]. The threshold is the exact integer rule in [F6], and repeating a polynomial-size full-list verifier r times gives polynomial gate count, witness width, and generator time whenever r is polynomially bounded. For the least admissible integer, r≤2γ−2ln⁡(1/δ)+1, which is polynomial under the resource hypotheses of the Statement.

LemmaStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedOpen item page →

Input and output penalties on history states

Statement

Let N=T+1 and let ∣ηϕ⟩ be the history of an arbitrary normalized initial computation state ϕ for Feynman–Kitaev history Hamiltonian. Let Nbad be the number of initially clean ancilla bits equal to one, let pbad be the probability that the ancilla register is not all zero, and let prej be the verifier rejection probability at time T. Then ⟨ηϕ∣Hin∣ηϕ⟩=E[Nbad]/N≥pbad/N,⟨ηϕ∣Hout∣ηϕ⟩=prej. Moreover, the squared norm removed by orthogonally projecting ∣ηϕ⟩ onto ker⁡(Hin+Hout) is exactly (pbad+prej)/N: the input constraint removes the entire dirty-ancilla component at clock time zero, and the output constraint removes the reject component at clock time T. In particular, a clean-ancilla history with acceptance at least 1−ϵ has zero input energy and output energy at most ϵ.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The normalized history, the clean-ancilla input subspace, and the one-bit accept output convention.

[F1]

Feynman–Kitaev history Hamiltonian: the history has equal squared clock amplitude 1/N, Hin checks dirty ancillas only at time zero, and Hout has coefficient N at time T.

[F2]

QMA promise class with a verifier effect on witnesses: verifier acceptance and rejection are complementary terminal measurement probabilities.

Proof

1.1F1algebra

Expand the history in the orthogonal legal clock basis. In Hin the projector ∣0⟩⟨0∣C1 is one exactly on c0 and zero on ct for t≥1. At c0, the sum of ancilla projectors has expectation E[Nbad] in ϕ; since Nbad≥1 on the dirty subspace, this expectation is at least pbad. The history clock weight is 1/N, proving the input identity and inequality.

2.1F1F2step 1.1algebra∎

The output projector ∣1⟩⟨1∣CT is one only on legal clock word cT. The history weight there is 1/N; multiplying by the explicit coefficient N cancels it. The remaining computation state is UT⋯U1ϕ, whose reject-bit probability is prej by [F2]. Thus the output identity holds. The kernel of Hin+Hout imposes a zero-ancilla projector only at clock c0 and the accept projector only at clock cT; these clock sectors are orthogonal, so the removed squared norm is (pbad+prej)/N. For a clean ancilla pbad=0 and every input penalty vanishes; acceptance at least 1−ϵ gives prej≤ϵ.

LemmaStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedjudge pass (gpt-6-luna)Open item page →

KKR restriction to correct one-qubit propagation

Statement

Fix L≥2 and let T2 be the number of controlled-Z gates. Pad the verifier to T=(T2+1)L−1 steps, with controlled-Z gates exactly at times t=lL for 1≤l≤T2 and exactly L clock configurations in each block [lL,(l+1)L−1]. Every other Ut is one-qubit. For each one-qubit gate time t, define the KKR local propagation term by Hprop,t=12(I⊗∣10⟩⟨10∣CtCt+1+I⊗∣10⟩⟨10∣Ct−1Ct−Ut⊗∣1⟩⟨0∣Ct−Ut∗⊗∣0⟩⟨1∣Ct) for 1<t<T. When T≥2, use the endpoint terms Hprop,1=12(I⊗∣10⟩⟨10∣C1C2+I⊗∣0⟩⟨0∣C1−U1⊗∣1⟩⟨0∣C1−U1∗⊗∣0⟩⟨1∣C1), Hprop,T=12(I⊗∣1⟩⟨1∣CT+I⊗∣10⟩⟨10∣CT−1CT−UT⊗∣1⟩⟨0∣CT−UT∗⊗∣0⟩⟨1∣CT). For T=1 (necessarily T2=0,L=2), use only Hprop,1=12(I⊗IC1−U1⊗∣1⟩⟨0∣C1−U1∗⊗∣0⟩⟨1∣C1). Each summand is at most 2-local. Put Hprop1=∑t: Ut is one-qubitHprop,t. On the legal clock space it is a direct sum of half-weight path Laplacians, and its kernel Sprop1 is spanned by block histories ∣ηl,i⟩=L−1/2∑t=lL(l+1)L−1Ut⋯U1∣i⟩⊗∣ct⟩, where i ranges over a computational basis of the work register and l over the blocks. The nonzero gap is at least g1=1−cos⁡(π/L)≥2/L2. If the remaining weighted terms have norm at most K1, choose J1g1>2K1+K12/ϵ1; the projection lemma then incurs additive error below ϵ1 when restricting to Sprop1.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The legal unary clock, a padded circuit with one-qubit gates except at the designated block boundaries, and K1 bounding the norm of all remaining weighted terms.

[F1]

KKR restriction to legal unary clocks: the clock penalty has already restricted the analysis to legal unary clock words.

[F2]

Propagation kernel and path-Laplacian gap: a half-weight path on L consecutive configurations has gap 1−cos⁡(π/L)≥2/L2.

[F3]

Projection lemma for a large penalty: a penalty with spectral gap J changes the compressed minimum by at most K12/(J−2K1).

Proof

1.1F1F2givenalgebra

Within one block, conjugate each clock-time sector by its accumulated one-qubit circuit prefix. Every propagation edge becomes 12(∣t⟩−∣t−1⟩)(⟨t∣−⟨t−1∣) tensor identity. No edge in Hprop1 connects distinct blocks because the separating edge is the designated two-qubit gate. Therefore the operator is a direct sum, over blocks and work basis labels, of half-weight path Laplacians on L vertices. Their common kernel is the constant vector on each block, which after undoing the conjugation gives the displayed ∣ηl,i⟩ basis; [F2] gives the minimum nonzero gap g1.

2.1F3step 1.1algebra∎

The weighted penalty J1Hprop1 has zero space Sprop1 and least positive eigenvalue at least J1g1. Apply [F3] with the remaining Hermitian sum as H1 and this penalty as H2. Since J1g1>2K1+K12/ϵ1, the error is strictly less than ϵ1. For polynomial K1, L and 1/ϵ1, a polynomial integer J1 satisfies this inequality.

TheoremStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedOpen item page →

The encoded Local Hamiltonian problem belongs to QMA

Statement

For each fixed k, the encoded k-Local Hamiltonian promise problem of Encoded k-local Hamiltonian promise problem is in QMA. A verifier receives an n-qubit witness ρ, uses the ℓ=⌈log⁡2m⌉ address qubits to choose uniformly one of d=2ℓ addresses, rejects addresses j≥m, and for j<m measures the locally synthesized effect Ej=(I−Hj/B)/2. Its ideal local-energy test has acceptance probability p(ρ)=m2d−Tr⁡(Hρ)2dB. The promised acceptance gap is (b−a)/(2dB)≥(b−a)/(4mB) (with d=1 when m=1). Synthesize each conditional test to effect error at most one eighth of this gap; then the implemented verifier retains an inverse-polynomial gap and is uniformly generated from the term encodings. An efficiently synthesized coin normalizes the instance-dependent acceptance midpoint to length-only QMA thresholds. The QMA amplifier of Parallel QMA amplification remains sound for entangled witnesses then gives standard bounded error.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: A promised encoded instance H=∑j=1mHj, each ∥Hj∥≤B, and a witness density operator ρ.

[F1]

Encoded k-local Hamiltonian promise problem: the explicit encoding has n polynomial in input length and lists m finite Hermitian local matrices; YES has λmin(H)≤a, and NO has λmin(H)≥b.

[F2]

Uniform finite-arity local-energy measurement synthesis: a polynomial-time classical compiler obtains a finite gate list for each local test from its matrix encoding and supplies Cauchy names for the controlled dilation target.

[F3]

QMA promise class with a verifier effect on witnesses: acceptance is a uniform finite-circuit effect on the witness, with an inverse-polynomial completeness/soundness gap.

[F4]

Parallel QMA amplification remains sound for entangled witnesses: a verifier with inverse-polynomial gap can be amplified with polynomial overhead to any inverse-polynomial target error.

[F5]

Trace is a linear functional on Mn(F): trace is linear on finite matrices.

[F6]

Effective synthesis of fixed-dimensional unitaries: a fixed-dimensional unitary and its selector-controlled block diagonal form can be generated to any inverse-polynomial operator precision.

[F7]

Uniform interpretation of an input-generated quantum circuit: any polynomial-time input-to-gate-list compiler is simulated by one full-list uniform verifier family with inverse-polynomial operator error.

[F8]

Exact one-qubit gates and rotations: the exact Hadamard matrix sends ∣0⟩ to (∣0⟩+∣1⟩)/2.

[F9]

Finite POVMs and their outcome law: finite measurement effects determine the outcome probabilities by the Born trace formula.

[F10]

Effective finite matrix encodings for local Hamiltonians: each encoded local matrix has a uniform polynomial-time entry-approximation procedure.

Proof

1.1F1F2F3F6F7F8F10givenalgebra

Let N=∣x∣. Because n is polynomially bounded in N, choose fixed polynomial envelopes P(N)≥max⁡{1,p(n)} and Q(N)≥1 bounding both m and B on every valid length-N input; these envelopes are computable in polynomial time from 1N. Put g∗(N)=1/(4Q(N)2P(N)). Since d<2m for m>1 and d=1 for m=1, the exact gap g=(b−a)/(2dB) satisfies g≥g∗(N). Prepare the address uniformly with Hadamards using [F8]. A fixed polynomial-time classical compiler on the encoded instance builds the verifier gate list: compute each equality predicate, apply the selector-controlled local Naimark test, and reject invalid addresses. The controlled target has fixed dimension at most 2k+2; [F2] supplies its Cauchy matrix description, and [F6] compiles each full selector-controlled block to operator error at most g∗(N)/(32m), up to a whole-circuit scalar. Telescoping the m block replacements gives total operator error at most g∗(N)/32, hence acceptance error at most g∗(N)/16 for the complete address test; this also bounds leakage from approximate selector controls. The compiler's full output list has polynomial length because m,B are polynomially bounded and each matrix encoding has the uniform polynomial-time approximation routine of [F10]. The compiler is uniformized by [F7] with operator error δ(N)=g∗(N)/32 after appending the threshold normalization below; the single full-list family generated from 1N computes the complete list from x and interprets it. A fixed polynomial time limit makes the classical compiler total, emitting a fixed rejecting circuit on malformed input or overrun; promised encodings satisfy the established bounds.

1.2F1F5F9givenalgebra

In the address basis, the acceptance effect on the witness is the direct sum average d−1∑j<mEj. The finite outcome law [F9] and trace linearity [F5] give p(ρ)=d−1∑j<mTr⁡(Ejρ)=m2d−Tr⁡(Hρ)2dB. For a YES instance use a ground-state eigenvector from the finite spectral theorem; for a NO instance every density matrix has energy at least b. Thus the exact acceptance gap is (b−a)/(2dB). If m>1, d<2m; if m=1, d=1, so in either case it is at least (b−a)/(4mB).

2.1F2F3F4F6F7step 1.1step 1.2algebra∎

By [F2] and [F7], the implemented energy test has acceptance error at most g∗(N)/16+2(g∗(N)/32)=g∗(N)/8. Its ideal instance-dependent thresholds are cx=m/(2d)−a/(2dB) and sx=m/(2d)−b/(2dB), with cx−sx=g. Compute tx=(cx+sx)/2 exactly. If tx<0, then sx<0, so no NO instance can occur because acceptance is nonnegative; accept deterministically. If tx>1, then cx>1, so no YES instance can occur; reject deterministically. For 0≤tx≤1, use a fair branch coin: on one branch perform the energy test, and on the other accept with probability 1−tx. The ideal combined acceptance is q=(p+1−tx)/2, at least 1/2+g/4 on YES and at most 1/2−g/4 on NO. The second coin is prepared by synthesizing the one-qubit real rotation with first column (tx,1−tx)T to probability error at most g∗(N)/16 using [F6]; square-root Cauchy evaluation, including zero endpoints, is supplied by the rounded Newton construction in [F2]. All branch and outcome bits are measured only at termination, with a polynomial-time final predicate. Apply the interpreter once to this complete input-generated circuit. Its energy-block error contributes at most g∗/32 after the half mixture, the second coin contributes at most g∗/32, and interpreter error contributes at most g∗/16, for total error at most g∗/8. Thus the length-only rational thresholds c(N)=1/2+g∗(N)/8 and s(N)=1/2−g∗(N)/8 apply to every promised length-N input. Both lie in [0,1] since g∗≤1/4, and their gap is inverse polynomial. Amplify this uniform verifier using [F4]; witness width, initialized workspace, size and generator time remain polynomial.

LemmaStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedOpen item page →

Geometric soundness bound for a history Hamiltonian

Statement

Fix a NO input x and an amplified, input-specific verifier circuit Vx with soundness s≤1/8. Its only unrestricted initial register is the witness: every other work qubit belongs to the zero-initialized set A checked by Hin. In particular, any classical-input scratch registers start at zero and the circuit loads the fixed string x before verification; the output predicate is specialized to x. Let N=T+1. In the legal-clock history space let S=ker⁡(Hin+Hout) and T0=ker⁡(Hprop). Then for every unit history vector v∈T0, ∥PSv∥2≤1−12N. Consequently the least eigenvalue of Hin+Hout+Hprop on legal clocks is at least 1/(2N3). The proof allows arbitrary initial ancilla states in T0; the QMA soundness premise is applied only to the clean-ancilla component.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The input-specific NO verifier with soundness s≤1/8, all nonwitness initial wires checked by Hin, its legal-clock history Hamiltonian, and N=T+1.

[F1]

Propagation kernel and path-Laplacian gap: T0 is the image of the linear history map, which preserves norms; in particular its unit vectors are exactly histories of unit initial vectors. The propagation gap is at least 2/N2.

[F2]

Input and output penalties on history states: the squared norm removed by projecting a history onto S is (pbad+prej)/N.

[F3]

QMA promise class with a verifier effect on witnesses: for the fixed NO input x and any witness, acceptance is at most s. By the input-specific initialization hypothesis, this applies to every normalized vector in the zero-A subspace.

[F4]

Parallel QMA amplification remains sound for entangled witnesses: the verifier can be amplified to the stated inverse-polynomially small soundness while preserving polynomial size.

[F5]

Feynman–Kitaev history Hamiltonian: Hin is a sum of ancilla-one projectors restricted to clock time zero, and Hout is N times the reject projector restricted to clock time T.

Proof

1.1F2F3F4algebra

The amplification supplied by [F4] lets us fix a verifier with NO soundness s≤1/8. Write a normalized initial computation vector as ϕ=ϕc+ϕd, where ϕc has clean verifier ancillas and ϕd is orthogonal to that subspace; set α=∥ϕc∥ and β=∥ϕd∥, so α2+β2=1 and pbad=β2. Let K be the verifier's accept Kraus map, which is a contraction. By [F3], ∥Kϕc∥≤sα; hence the triangle inequality gives pacc=∥Kϕ∥2≤(sα+β)2. Therefore pbad+prej=β2+1−pacc≥1−sα2−2sαβ. The symmetric matrix (sss0) has largest eigenvalue s/2+s+s2/4; its Rayleigh quotient at (α,β) bounds the subtracted term. This eigenvalue is increasing for s≥0, and at s=1/8 it is (1+33)/16<1/2 because 33<7. Thus pbad+prej≥1/2.

2.1F1F2F5step 1.1algebra∎

By [F2], every unit v∈T0 has ∥PSv∥2=1−(pbad+prej)/N≤1−1/(2N). Put c=∥PSPT0∥; then c2≤1−1/(2N) and 1−c≥1−1−1/(2N)≥1/(4N). For any two orthogonal projections P,Q, the map v↦(Pv,Qv) has squared norm operator P+Q. On ran⁡(P)⊕ran⁡(Q) its block matrix has diagonal I and off-diagonal norm ∥PQ∥, so P+Q≤(1+∥PQ∥)I. Taking P=PS,Q=PT0 gives PS⊥+PT0⊥=2I−PS−PT0≥(1−c)I. By [F5], the input penalty has positive integer eigenvalues on the dirty-ancilla sector at time zero, while the output penalty has eigenvalue N≥1 on the reject sector at time T; these clock sectors are orthogonal. Thus Hin+Hout≥PS⊥. Also Hprop≥(2/N2)PT0⊥ by [F1], and 2/N2≤1. The sum is at least (2/N2)(1−c)I≥1/(2N3)I. This proves the ground-energy bound.

LemmaStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedOpen item page →

KKR restriction to correct two-qubit propagation

Statement

Assume the padded verifier has T2≥1 designated controlled-Z gates and fixes an integer L≥5, with T=(T2+1)L−1 and those gates at times t=lL; if the source circuit has none, the hard-instance compiler can add a cancelling pair, after which this restriction applies. On Sprop1, let each designated controlled-Z gate at time t=lL be preceded at times t−2,t−1 by Z on its first and second work wires, respectively, and followed at times t+1,t+2 by Z on those wires. Since L≥5, all clock indices t−3,…,t+3 lie in 1,…,T. Each wire receives two Z gates; they commute with controlled-Z and square to identity, so the insertions preserve the verifier unitary. Write Pa=∣a⟩⟨a∣, P10=∣10⟩⟨10∣, and X=∣0⟩⟨1∣+∣1⟩⟨0∣. Define Hqubit,t=12(−2P0ft−2P0st+P1ft+P1st)⊗XCt, 8Htime,t=I⊗[P10t,t+1+6P10t+1,t+2+P10t+2,t+3+2∣11⟩⟨00∣t+1,t+2+2∣00⟩⟨11∣t+1,t+2+Xt+1+Xt+2+P10t−3,t−2+6P10t−2,t−1+P10t−1,t+2∣11⟩⟨00∣t−2,t−1+2∣00⟩⟨11∣t−2,t−1+Xt−2+Xt−1]. Put Hprop2=∑l=1T2(Hqubit,lL+Htime,lL). Each displayed summand is at most 2-local. On the four physical work sectors 00,01,10,11, the legal-clock matrix on the adjacent coordinates ∣ct−1⟩,∣ct⟩ is respectively 4D−,D−,D−,2D+, where D−=12(∣ct−1⟩−∣ct⟩)(⟨ct−1∣−⟨ct∣),D+=12(∣ct−1⟩+∣ct⟩)(⟨ct−1∣+⟨ct∣). In block-history coordinates the CZ phase conjugates the 11-sector D+ to D−. After the common 1/L normalization, every sector therefore dominates one copy of D−/L. Summing these lower bounds over blocks and basis labels gives H′=12L∑l,i(∣ηl−1,i⟩−∣ηl,i⟩)(⟨ηl−1,i∣−⟨ηl,i∣). Its kernel is the full correct-propagation space Sprop and its gap is at least g2=2/[L(T2+1)2]. If the remaining terms have norm at most K2, choosing J2g2>2K2+K22/ϵ2 makes the restriction error less than ϵ2.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The padded controlled-Z verifier, the listed KKR terms, and K2 bounding the remaining terms on Sprop1.

[F1]

KKR restriction to correct one-qubit propagation: Sprop1 has the block-history basis ∣ηl,i⟩ and correct one-qubit propagation.

[F2]

Projection lemma for a large penalty: a penalty with gap J incurs error at most K22/(J−2K2).

[F3]

Propagation kernel and path-Laplacian gap: a half-weight path on T2+1 vertices has gap 1−cos⁡(π/(T2+1))≥2/(T2+1)2.

Proof

1.1F1givenalgebra

Let Π1 project onto Sprop1 and order the physical work sectors as 00,01,10,11. The two inserted Z gates after the controlled-Z gate give forward snapshot sign vectors sb=(1,1,1),(1,1,−1),(1,−1,−1),(1,−1,1) on clocks t,t+1,t+2, up to a common phase; the two preceding Z gates give the same four vectors on t−3,t−2,t−1. On legal clock words, the forward part of Htime,t has matrix M=18(112161211) on its three snapshots, and the backward part is its reflected copy. Direct multiplication gives sb∗Msb=ab with ab=(2,1/2,1/2,1), so the two parts contribute ab to the two endpoint diagonal entries in physical clock coordinates. There are no cross-endpoint entries from Htime,t. The work coefficient of Hqubit,t is db=(−2,−1/2,−1/2,1), and its clock bit-flip contributes that coefficient directly to the off-diagonal entries in physical coordinates. The resulting matrices are ab on each diagonal and db off diagonal: they are 4D−,D−,D−,2D+, respectively. In the block-history basis, the state at the later endpoint includes the controlled-Z phase; in sector 11 this changes its sign, conjugating 2D+ to 2D−. The common block normalization is 1/L, so after this basis change every sector dominates one copy of D−/L.

1.2F1F3algebra

At boundary t=lL, the computational basis vectors in Sprop1 are the normalized block histories ∣ηl−1,i⟩,∣ηl,i⟩. The clock endpoint projectors compress as Π1(I⊗∣ct−1⟩⟨ct−1∣)Π1=L−1∑i∣ηl−1,i⟩⟨ηl−1,i∣ and Π1(I⊗∣ct⟩⟨ct∣)Π1=L−1∑i∣ηl,i⟩⟨ηl,i∣. Since Ut=CZ, its cross term compresses to Π1(CZ⊗∣ct⟩⟨ct−1∣)Π1=L−1∑i∣ηl,i⟩⟨ηl−1,i∣, with the adjoint giving the reverse block. Substitution into the half-weight propagation edge gives L−1∑iD−(ηl−1,i,ηl,i), where D−(u,v)=12(∣u⟩−∣v⟩)(⟨u∣−⟨v∣). Summing over boundaries gives the displayed H′. Its kernel consists exactly of equal adjacent block-history coefficients, i.e. the full history space with every controlled phase correctly propagated. It is a half-weight path Laplacian on T2+1 blocks scaled by 1/L, so [F3] gives gap at least 2/[L(T2+1)2].

2.1F2step 1.2algebra∎

Since Hprop2∣Sprop1≥H′, it suffices for a lower bound to retain J2H′ on Sprop1. Apply [F2] within that subspace using kernel Sprop and penalty gap J2g2. The inequality J2g2>2K2+K22/ϵ2 makes the projection error less than ϵ2. All quantities are polynomially bounded and g2 is inverse polynomial, so an integer J2 of polynomial size exists.

LemmaStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedOpen item page →

Unary clock legality and 5-locality

Statement

For the unary clock ∣ct⟩=∣1t0T−t⟩, the penalty Hclock=∑i=1T−1∣01⟩⟨01∣CiCi+1 has kernel exactly the legal-clock subspace and every illegal clock basis word has penalty at least 1. With the local windows specified in Feynman–Kitaev history Hamiltonian, every propagation summand is supported on at most two computation qubits and three clock qubits; input, output and clock summands are at most two-local. For any g>0, a weight Jclock>2K+4K2/g makes the projection-lemma error strictly less than g/4, where K≥∥H0∥ bounds the sum of all other weighted terms. Such a weight can be chosen polynomially bounded when both K and g−1 are polynomially bounded; the formula does not assert polynomial size for smaller gaps.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: T≥1, the unary-clock history terms, a polynomial bound K≥∥H0∥, and an inverse-polynomial positive gap g when a polynomial penalty weight is required.

[F1]

Feynman–Kitaev history Hamiltonian: propagation windows have at most three clock bits and each verifier gate touches at most two work qubits.

[F2]

Projection lemma for a large penalty: a penalty JPS⊥ changes the least eigenvalue of a Hermitian operator of norm K by at most K2/(J−2K) when J>2K.

[F3]

Geometric soundness bound for a history Hamiltonian: the legal-clock Hamiltonian has an inverse-polynomial soundness gap before illegal clocks are penalized.

Proof

1.1givenalgebra

A binary word has no adjacent occurrence of 01 exactly when its bits are nonincreasing from left to right: if a zero occurred before a later one, the first subsequent transition from zero to one would be adjacent; conversely a word 1t0T−t has no such transition. Thus the common zero space of all adjacent projectors is spanned by the legal unary words. On a basis word, Hclock is diagonal with eigenvalue the number of forbidden adjacent pairs, so every illegal word has eigenvalue at least one.

2.1F1F2F3step 1.1algebra∎

The stated propagation windows contain three clock bits and at most two work bits; each input/output term couples one clock and one work bit, and each clock penalty couples two clock bits, proving the support bounds from [F1]. Let S be the legal-clock subspace. Then Hclock vanishes on S and is at least I on S⊥. Applying [F2] with H1=H0, H2=JclockHclock gives additive error at most K2/(Jclock−2K)<g/4. For polynomial resources choose the integer Jclock=⌊2K+4K2/g⌋+1. It strictly exceeds the threshold and is at most 2K+4K2/g+1, hence is polynomially bounded when K and g−1 are. The resulting error is strictly below g/4, preserving a positive gap at that scale.

LemmaStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedOpen item page →

KKR restriction to correctly initialized witness histories

Statement

Fix an input-specific verifier circuit with only its witness unrestricted initially and all other work qubits in the checked zero-initialized set A. For T≥1, use the history map and endpoint penalties of Feynman–Kitaev history Hamiltonian. Write V=UT⋯U1, and let Sprop be the span of all full correct-propagation histories for this circuit, identified isometrically with their initial computation vectors. When the padding hypotheses of KKR restriction to correct two-qubit propagation hold, this is the space obtained by that restriction. On Sprop, the compressed input term is Hin∣Sprop=1T+1∑a∈A∣1⟩⟨1∣a, where A is the checked zero-initialized workspace set, and the compressed output term is the transported reject projector V∗(∣0⟩⟨0∣out⊗I)V. Thus the kernel of Hin∣Sprop consists of histories initialized with zero workspace. If A≠∅, its least positive eigenvalue is at least 1/(T+1); if A=∅, the input term is zero and the restriction is immediate. If Kin bounds the norm of the remaining output term, choose Jin/(T+1)>2Kin+Kin2/ϵin. Then the final projection-lemma error is below ϵin. For an amplified verifier with YES acceptance at least 3/4 and NO acceptance at most 1/4, the compressed output energy is at most 1/4 on YES and at least 3/4 on NO.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The input-specific verifier and initial-vector identification in the Statement, correctly propagated histories, the input/output penalties, and an amplified verifier with the stated completeness and soundness.

[F1]

KKR restriction to correct two-qubit propagation identifies its restricted space with full verifier histories under its stated padding hypotheses; no padding is needed for the endpoint calculation here.

[F2]

Projection lemma for a large penalty: a penalty with gap J changes the compressed minimum by at most Kin2/(J−2Kin).

[F3]

Input and output penalties on history states gives input history energy E[Nbad]/(T+1) and output history energy equal to rejection probability.

[F4]

Feynman–Kitaev history Hamiltonian defines the linear history map Rϕ=(T+1)−1/2∑t=0TVtϕ⊗∣ct⟩, where V0=I and Vt=Ut⋯U1, and the endpoint penalties used here.

Proof

1.1F1F3F4algebra

By [F4], orthogonal clock sectors give R∗R=(T+1)−1∑tVt∗Vt=I, so R is an isometry onto Sprop. The clock factors in Hin and Hout select only times 0 and T, respectively. Direct multiplication gives R∗HinR=(T+1)−1∑a∈A∣1⟩⟨1∣a and R∗HoutR=V∗(∣0⟩⟨0∣out⊗I)V, agreeing with the energy identities of [F3] and requiring no padding. Under the padding hypotheses, [F1] identifies this same image with the preceding KKR restriction space. The input compression has eigenvalues r/(T+1), where r counts workspace bits equal to one, so its kernel is exactly the zero-workspace subspace. If A≠∅, every positive eigenvalue is at least 1/(T+1); if A=∅, the input operator is zero on all of Sprop.

2.1F2F3step 1.1algebra∎

If A≠∅, the weighted input penalty has nonzero gap Jin/(T+1). Apply [F2] with the compressed output term as H1 and this input penalty as H2; the chosen inequality makes the correction strictly less than ϵin. If A=∅, the input penalty is zero, its kernel is all of Sprop, and no projection error is incurred. On the restricted kernel, [F3] identifies the least output energy with minimum rejection probability over witness states. Completeness 3/4 gives energy at most 1/4; soundness 1/4 gives rejection at least 3/4 for every clean witness, so the restricted NO minimum is at least 3/4.

TheoremStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedOpen item page →

5-Local Hamiltonian is QMA-complete

Statement

For fixed k=5, the rationally encoded local-Hamiltonian promise problem with polynomial term count, polynomial local norm bound, and inverse-polynomial promise gap is QMA-complete under deterministic polynomial-time promise-preserving many-one reductions. The reduction is the unary-clock Feynman–Kitaev construction of Feynman–Kitaev history Hamiltonian, with the overlap correction in Geometric soundness bound for a history Hamiltonian and illegal-clock penalty in Unary clock legality and 5-locality. It outputs at most 5-local terms, polynomially many terms of polynomial norm, and explicitly computable rational thresholds. Algebraic gate entries are rationalized by Rational encoding preserves a promised local-Hamiltonian gap.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: A QMA promise problem and its polynomial-time uniform verifier family.

[F1]

The encoded Local Hamiltonian problem belongs to QMA: the finite matrix-encoded 5-local Hamiltonian promise problem belongs to QMA.

[F2]

QMA completeness under promise-preserving reductions: QMA-hardness requires a deterministic polynomial-time promise-preserving map from every QMA promise problem.

[F3]

Feynman–Kitaev history Hamiltonian: unary-clock propagation terms use at most two computation and three clock qubits.

[F4]

Propagation kernel and path-Laplacian gap: the legal propagation kernel has gap at least 2/(T+1)2.

[F5]

Input and output penalties on history states: a valid clean history has output energy equal to verifier rejection probability.

[F6]

Geometric soundness bound for a history Hamiltonian: after amplification to soundness at most 1/8, the legal-clock base Hamiltonian has least eigenvalue at least 1/(2(T+1)3) on NO inputs.

[F7]

Unary clock legality and 5-locality: a polynomial clock weight makes the illegal-clock restriction error less than one quarter of the legal soundness gap.

[F8]

Rational encoding preserves a promised local-Hamiltonian gap: polynomial-time rational approximations preserve the promise gap with explicit threshold shifts.

[F9]

Parallel QMA amplification remains sound for entangled witnesses: polynomially many repetitions reduce both QMA errors to any inverse-polynomial target.

[F10]

Uniform interpretation of an input-generated quantum circuit: a polynomial-time classical computation of the terminal predicate has a full-list uniform reversible QC14 implementation with clean initial work.

[F11]

Promise preserving reduction: a deterministic polynomial-time many-one map is promise-preserving when it sends YES inputs to YES inputs and NO inputs to NO inputs.

[F12]

A pure witness suffices for a QMA completeness threshold: if a witness density operator attains a completeness threshold, some pure-state density operator attains at least the same threshold.

Proof

1.1F3F9F10givenalgebra

First use [F9] to amplify the source verifier to completeness at least 3/4 and soundness at most 1/4. Compile each copy's terminal predicate into a reversible circuit with one accept output, and include its input-copy CNOTs and clean predicate workspace in a fixed polynomial gate envelope T1(n)≥n+1. Fix a constant C large enough that a second amplification with r=O(log⁡(C(T1(n)+1)2)) repetitions, together with its reversible majority predicate, has gate count at most Tmax(n):=C(T1(n)+1)2; such a C exists because log⁡(C(T1+1)2)≤O(log⁡C+log⁡(T1+1)) and T1log⁡(T1+1)≤O((T1+1)2). Put Nmax=Tmax(n)+1 and δ(n)=1/(64Nmax3). This is a polynomial-time computable rational target, and the second amplification has completeness at least 1−δ(n) and soundness at most δ(n). For each input x, form an input-specific circuit Vx with fresh scratch input wires initially zero, and count the root input register, every copied-input register, all predicate workspace and every other initially zero work wire among the clean ancillas A. Its prefix loads x into the root input register using X=HT4H; the CNOT fanout in [F9] then prepares a separate ∣x⟩ in each verifier-copy input register. Run the amplified verifier gates, and reversibly compute their complete acceptance predicate, specialized to this fixed x, into one output qubit. Thus Hin enforces zero on each classical-input scratch register at time zero, and the prefix and fanout set every verifier input to this fixed x before verification. The input-specific full gate list is generated in polynomial time from x, and the envelope Tmax includes these prefix, fanout and predicate gates. If the verifier has zero gates, include one idle identity time slot in the Hamiltonian list so its padded length T≥1 without changing acceptance. Construct the unary history Hamiltonian with H=Hin+Hprop+Hout+JclockHclock. Every propagation term uses at most two work qubits and a three-bit clock window by [F3]; input, output and clock penalties are at most 2-local.

2.1F4F5F6F7F10F12step 1.1algebra

For a YES input, [F12] lets the twice-amplified verifier use a pure witness accepted with probability at least 1−δ(n); let ∣η⟩ be its normalized history. Input, propagation and clock energies vanish; [F5] gives output energy at most δ(n)≤1/(64N3) because T≤Tmax(n). Thus λmin(H)≤a:=δ(n). For a NO input, [F6] gives legal-clock ground energy at least 1/(2N3). The norm of the non-clock sum is at most K=T+∣A∣+N because each propagation edge has norm at most one, the input sum has norm at most the number ∣A∣ of clean ancillas, and ∥Hout∥=N. Choose the explicit integer Jclock=2K+8N3K2+1; then [F7] gives illegal-clock projection error less than 1/(8N3), so λmin(H)≥3/(8N3)>b:=1/(4N3). Since a≤1/(64N3), the promise gap is at least 15/(64N3), inverse polynomial. Each matrix term and its norm bound is computed from the finite gate list and polynomial weights.

3.1F1F2F8F11step 2.1algebra∎

The verifier gate alphabet has fixed algebraic matrix entries, so the generated local terms have effectively encoded algebraic entries of polynomial description length. Apply [F8] with τ≤(b−a)/8 and output rationalized terms with thresholds a+τ and b−τ. The resulting promise gap is at least 3(b−a)/4, and the number, bit length and norm of the rational terms remain polynomial. This is a deterministic polynomial-time map preserving YES and NO by [F11]; [F2] makes the problem QMA-hard. Membership is [F1], so it is QMA-complete.

TheoremStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedOpen item page →

2-Local Hamiltonian is QMA-complete

Statement

For fixed k=2, the rationally encoded k-Local Hamiltonian promise problem with polynomially many terms of polynomial norm and inverse-polynomial promise gap is QMA-complete. Hardness uses KKR's direct circuit-to-Hamiltonian reduction: penalize illegal unary clocks, incorrect one-qubit propagation, incorrect controlled-phase propagation, and nonzero initialized ancillas in that order. Every displayed summand is at most 2-local. If the four projection errors are each below 1/64, the amplified NO ground energy is at least 3/4−4/64=11/16, while YES energy is at most 1/4. The resulting gap is at least 7/16 before rationalization; Rational encoding preserves a promised local-Hamiltonian gap yields a rational instance with inverse-polynomial encoding and preserved gap. Membership is The encoded Local Hamiltonian problem belongs to QMA.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: A QMA promise verifier on input x with polynomially bounded circuit size.

[F1]

The encoded Local Hamiltonian problem belongs to QMA: rationally encoded fixed-locality Hamiltonian is in QMA using generated local measurements.

[F2]

QMA completeness under promise-preserving reductions: QMA-completeness is membership plus hardness under deterministic promise-preserving reductions.

[F3]

KKR restriction to legal unary clocks: a polynomial clock penalty restricts to legal unary clocks with error below 1/64.

[F4]

KKR restriction to correct one-qubit propagation: a polynomial J1 restricts legal histories to correct one-qubit propagation with error below 1/64.

[F5]

KKR restriction to correct two-qubit propagation: a polynomial J2 restricts to all correct propagation with error below 1/64.

[F6]

KKR restriction to correctly initialized witness histories: a polynomial Jin restricts to clean ancillas with error below 1/64 and gives the output energy bounds.

[F7]

Rational encoding preserves a promised local-Hamiltonian gap: rationalization shifts each energy threshold by at most the chosen total norm error.

[F8]

Parallel QMA amplification remains sound for entangled witnesses: the verifier can be amplified with polynomial overhead to completeness at least 3/4 and soundness at most 1/4.

[F9]

Polynomial-time computations have logspace-uniform circuit families supplies polynomial-size Boolean circuits for a fixed polynomial-time predicate; the size, type, predecessor and output queries of A logspace-uniform Boolean circuit family enumerate their complete lists in polynomial time.

[F12]

Effective synthesis of fixed-dimensional unitaries supplies an exact Toffoli decomposition over QC14 by its parity-phase construction. The exact one-qubit matrices of Exact one-qubit gates and rotations give Z=T4, X=HT4H, and CNOT has the control-first action of CNOT and Control-Target Order.

[F10]

Promise preserving reduction: a deterministic polynomial-time many-one map is promise-preserving when it sends YES inputs to YES inputs and NO inputs to NO inputs.

[F11]

A pure witness suffices for a QMA completeness threshold: if a witness density operator attains a completeness threshold, some pure-state density operator attains at least the same threshold.

Proof

1.1F8F9F11F12givenalgebra

By [F8], amplify the verifier to completeness at least 3/4 and soundness at most 1/4 using polynomially many repetitions. On each YES input, [F11] lets the amplified verifier attain its completeness threshold with a pure witness. For each source input x, make the amplified circuit input-specific: replace its classical input register and every parallel-copy input register by fresh zero-initialized scratch wires, count all of them among the clean ancillas A, and prefix the circuit with X=HT4H on each root input bit where xi=1. Then use the CNOT fanout prescribed by [F8] to load the same basis string x into each separate copy register. Use [F9] to enumerate Boolean circuits for the terminal predicates and the final majority predicate, specializing their classical input bits to x. Implement these exactly: compute each Boolean node into a fresh zero bit in topological order, using X and CNOT for constants and NOT, Toffoli for AND, and two CNOTs and a Toffoli for a∨b=a⊕b⊕ab; repeated input ports are handled by copying their common input. Copy the final accept bit to a fresh output and reverse the node computations. By [F12] every gate in this predicate computation is an exact QC14 word. Count all its zero-initialized work wires in A. Thus no approximate quantum interpreter is invoked and there is no predicate-compilation acceptance error. Thus the input-penalized history starts with all input scratch registers zero, and the prefix and fanout set every verifier input to this particular x before verification. Replace each CNOT by the exact identity CNOT=(I⊗H)CZ(I⊗H); Z=T4, and CZ has exact matrix diag⁡(1,1,1,−1). If there are no controlled-Z gates, add two cancelling CZ gates on two fresh clean work qubits; their product is identity. For each designated CZ on wires f,s at time t, insert Zf,Zs at times t−2,t−1 before it and Zf,Zs at t+1,t+2 after it. These commute with CZ and each wire has two Z factors, so the computation is unchanged. Let T2≥1 count the resulting controlled-Z gates; choose polynomial L≥5 larger than every one-qubit segment plus its four inserted Z steps, including the input-loading prefix, pad each segment with exact idle identity matrices on a fixed work wire to exactly L−1 one-qubit steps, placing all padding between its prescribed initial and final Z steps so that the two Z steps on each side of every CZ stay adjacent to that gate, and set T=(T2+1)L−1. Thus controlled-Z gates occur at lL, every other step is a one-qubit unitary, and all clock indices required by the KKR terms exist. The identities are matrix entries of the reduction's finite Hamiltonian list and do not alter the verifier computation. The padded length remains polynomial.

1.2F3F4F5F6F9algebra

Set ϵ0=ϵ1=ϵ2=ϵin=1/64. First choose Jin with effective gap Jin/(T+1)>2Kin+Kin2/ϵin, where Kin bounds the compressed output term. Next choose J2 so J2g2>2K2+K22/ϵ2, with K2 bounding Hout+JinHin. Then choose J1 so J1g1>2K1+K12/ϵ1, where K1 bounds Hout+JinHin+J2Hprop2. Finally choose Jclock>2Kclock+Kclock2/ϵ0, where Kclock bounds all preceding weighted terms. The gaps g1,g2 are inverse polynomial by [F4]–[F5]; each Ki is polynomial in the verifier length and earlier weights. Choose each next integer also larger than T2 times the previous weight. All four remain polynomial and satisfy Jin≪J2≪J1≪Jclock.

1.3F3F4F5F6algebra

Apply the four restrictions in order. The illegal-clock term, one-qubit edge terms, KKR controlled-phase checks, and input penalty each lose less than 1/64 from the least eigenvalue by [F3]–[F6]. On YES the valid clean history has energy equal to rejection probability, at most 1/4, so the full Hamiltonian has least eigenvalue at most 1/4 by the projection-lemma upper bounds. On NO the final clean-history subspace has least output energy at least 3/4; the four lower-bound errors sum to less than 4/64, so the full least eigenvalue is greater than 11/16.

2.1F1F2F7F10step 1.1step 1.2step 1.3algebra∎

All terms of Hclock are pair projectors. A one-qubit propagation check couples one work qubit and a clock projector. Each Hqubit,t summand couples one work qubit and one clock bit, and each Htime,t summand acts on one or two clock bits. Input and output terms couple one work and one clock qubit. Thus every summand is at most 2-local, and the number and norms are polynomial because there are polynomially many clock pairs and all four weights are polynomial. Choose rational thresholds a=1/4, b=11/16; the strict bound in step 1.3 places every NO instance above b. Apply [F7] with τ≤(b−a)/8 and shifted thresholds; this preserves at least 3(b−a)/4>0 gap and gives a polynomial-time rational encoding. The verifier generator and all arithmetic are deterministic polynomial time, so [F10] makes this a promise-preserving reduction from every QMA problem. Membership is [F1].

5 · Examples, counterexamples and false statements

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