One-way log-tape reductions

Abstract

One-way log-tape (1-L) reductions are mappings defined by log-tape Turing machines whose read head on the input can only move to the right. The 1-L reductions provide a more refined tool for studying the feasible complexity classes than the P-time [2,7] or log-tape [4] reductions. Although the 1-L computations are provably weaker than the feasible classes L, NL, P and NP, the known complete sets for those classes are complete under 1-L reductions. However, using known techniques of counting arguments and recursion theory we show that certain log-tape reductions cannot be 1-L and we construct sets that are complete under log-tape reductions but not under 1-L reductions.