High-entropy dual functions over finite fields and locally decodable codes

We show that for infinitely many primes p there exist dual functions of order k over ${\mathbb{F}}_p^n$ that cannot be approximated in $L_\infty $ -distance by polynomial phase functions of degree $k-1$ . This answers in the negative a natural finite-field analogue of a problem of Frantzikinakis on $L_\infty $ -approximations of dual functions over ${\mathbb{N}}$ (a.k.a. multiple correlation sequences) by nilsequences.

PDQP/qpoly=ALL

We show that combining two different hypothetical enhancements to quantum computation---namely, quantum advice and non-collapsing measurements---would let a quantum computer solve any decision problem whatsoever in polynomial time, even though neither enhancement yields extravagant power by itself. This complements a related result due to Raz. The proof uses locally decodable codes.