Semi-Algebraic Proof Systems for QBF

Abstract

We introduce new semi-algebraic proof systems for Quantified Boolean Formulas (QBF) analogous to the propositional systems Nullstellensatz, Sherali-Adams and Sum-of-Squares. We transfer to this setting techniques both from the QBF literature (strategy extraction) and from propositional proof complexity (size-degree relations and pseudo-expectation). We obtain a number of strong QBF lower bounds and separations between these systems, even when disregarding propositional hardness.