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A Continuous-Discontinuous Second-Order Transition in the Satisfiability of Random Horn-SAT Formulas

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Approximation, Randomization and Combinatorial Optimization. Algorithms and Techniques (APPROX 2005, RANDOM 2005)

Abstract

We compute the probability of satisfiability of a class of random Horn-SAT formulae, motivated by a connection with the nonemptiness problem of finite tree automata. In particular, when the maximum clause length is three, this model displays a curve in its parameter space along which the probability of satisfiability is discontinuous, ending in a second-order phase transition where it becomes continuous. This is the first case in which a phase transition of this type has been rigorously established for a random constraint satisfaction problem.

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Moore, C., Istrate, G., Demopoulos, D., Vardi, M.Y. (2005). A Continuous-Discontinuous Second-Order Transition in the Satisfiability of Random Horn-SAT Formulas. In: Chekuri, C., Jansen, K., Rolim, J.D.P., Trevisan, L. (eds) Approximation, Randomization and Combinatorial Optimization. Algorithms and Techniques. APPROX RANDOM 2005 2005. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 3624. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/11538462_35

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/11538462_35

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-28239-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-31874-3

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