A nonlinear-capacity criterion for four-state reconstruction on arbitrary trees
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Definitions and mathematical statement
Statement recorded in the supplied source.
For every deterministic infinite rooted tree with uniformly bounded number of children and $0<\lambda <1$, is four-state reconstruction equivalent to positivity of $sup_\theta $ |theta| over nonnegative root-to-infinity flows satisfying $sup_ray$ $sum_(e$ on $ray)(\lambda ^{-2|e|}\theta (e))^2\leq 1$? Reconstruction means a positive limiting expected total-variation distance of the root posterior from the uniform four-state law.Short English statement
For every deterministic infinite rooted tree with uniformly bounded number of children and $0<\lambda <1$, is four-state reconstruction equivalent to positivity of $sup_\theta $ |theta| over nonnegative root-to-infinity flows satisfying $sup_ray$ $sum_(e$ on $ray)(\lambda ^{-2|e|}\theta (e))^2\leq 1$? Reconstruction means a positive limiting expected total-variation distance of the root posterior from the uniform four-state law.Sources
- S1 Original question source or mathematical context. https://github.com/openai/math/blob/adc7f1241b42e322a6451854ab7e4b4c146bf78a/preprints/A-Capacity-Criterion-for-Four-State-Potts-Reconstruction-on-Trees-October-5-2026/build/main.tex.
- S2 OpenAI, manuscript citation page. Source of the formulation motivating this local problem. https://github.com/openai/math/blob/adc7f1241b42e322a6451854ab7e4b4c146bf78a/preprints/A-Capacity-Criterion-for-Four-State-Potts-Reconstruction-on-Trees-October-5-2026/README.md.
Statement licence: CC-BY-4.0 · Source file
Contributions 1
OpenAI claim summary for Math-2879
On any bounded-degree deterministic tree, four-state ferromagnetic reconstruction is claimed equivalent to positive $L^3$ capacity for resistances $\lambda^{-2|e|}$. The question retains these same parameters and conventions. Within these assumptions, this is a claimed affirmative answer to the stated question.
A nonlinear-capacity criterion for four-state reconstruction on arbitrary trees
OpenAI's claim
OpenAI presents a proof in the selected manuscript. On any bounded-degree deterministic tree, four-state ferromagnetic reconstruction is claimed equivalent to positive $L^3$ capacity for resistances $\lambda^{-2|e|}$.Mathematical statement of the claimed result
Result 1.
Let $T$ be an infinite tree with a distinguished root; each vertex has at most $B<\infty$ children. On this tree, broadcast four uniform states through $P_\lambda(j|i)=\lambda\mathbf1_{i=j}+(1-\lambda)/4$, $0<\lambda<1$. Let $a_\infty$ be the limiting expected total-variation advantage of the root posterior from level observations. For a nonnegative conserved flow $\theta$, with root mass $|\theta|$, define \[ \operatorname{Cap}_{3,\lambda}(T)=\sup\left\{|\theta|: \sup_{\xi\in\partial T}\sum_{e\in\xi}(\lambda^{-2|e|}\theta(e))^2\le1\right\}. \] The source claims \[ a_\infty(T,\lambda)>0\quad\Longleftrightarrow\quad\operatorname{Cap}_{3,\lambda}(T)>0. \] The edge depth is the depth of its child endpoint.Outline of the argument
A cubic posterior-information saving is converted to a nonlinear flow inequality by changing variables. Reconstruction then telescopes into a positive admissible flow; conversely a scaled flow specifies noisy terminal observations whose accumulated information loss remains controlled.Formal verification
For family 229, the three-state Comparator entries only establish reconstruction when $d\lambda^2>1$. They omit threshold nonreconstruction, the graph recovery corollary, and the four-state companions. No Comparator is assigned to the selected manuscript here; the family page selects other papers or supporting statements. This site has not executed the Lean code. The scope descriptions do not certify the remaining manuscript arguments.Status caveat
OpenAI attributes these manuscripts to work by an internal model. Its release cautions that arguments without formalization can contain mistakes. This catalogue has not independently checked the proofs; the labels report the mathematical claims attributed to OpenAI.Sources
- OpenAI, A Capacity Criterion for Four-State Potts Reconstruction on Trees, 2026-10-05; citation key
OAI:A-Capacity-Criterion-for-Four-State-Potts-Reconstruction-on-Trees-October-5-2026. PDF (GitHub); PDF (direct); Manuscript page and citation; Latest version; Statement source: thm:main. - Family 229: Lean scope.
- OpenAI catalogue entry.