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On problems without polynomial kernels. (English) Zbl 1192.68288
Summary: Kernelization is a strong and widely-applied technique in parameterized complexity. A kernelization algorithm, or simply a kernel, is a polynomial-time transformation that transforms any given parameterized instance to an equivalent instance of the same problem, with size and parameter bounded by a function of the parameter in the input. A kernel is polynomial if the size and parameter of the output are polynomially-bounded by the parameter of the input.
In this paper, we develop a framework which allows showing that a wide range of FPT problems do not have polynomial kernels. Our evidence relies on hypothesis made in the classical world (i.e., non-parametric complexity), and revolves around a new type of algorithm for classical decision problems, called a distillation algorithm, which is of independent interest. Using the notion of distillation algorithms, we develop a generic lower-bound engine that allows us to show that a variety of FPT problems, fulfilling certain criteria, cannot have polynomial kernels unless the polynomial hierarchy collapses. These problems include $$k$$-Path, $$k$$-Cycle, $$k$$-Exact Cycle, $$k$$-Short Cheap Tour, $$k$$-Graph Minor Order Test, $$k$$-Cutwidth, $$k$$-Search Number, $$k$$-Pathwidth, $$k$$-Treewidth, $$k$$-Branchwidth, and several optimization problems parameterized by treewidth and other structural parameters.

##### MSC:
 68Q15 Complexity classes (hierarchies, relations among complexity classes, etc.) 68Q17 Computational difficulty of problems (lower bounds, completeness, difficulty of approximation, etc.)
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