Quantum Algorithm for k-distinctness with Prior Knowledge on the Input

Abstract: It is known that the dual of the general adversary bound can be used to build quantum query algorithms with optimal complexity. Despite this result, not many quantum algorithms have been designed this way. This paper shows another example of such algorithm. We use the learning graph technique from arXiv:1105.4024 to give a quantum algorithm for $k$-distinctness problem that runs in $o(n<sup>{3/4})$ queries, for a fixed $k$, given some prior knowledge on the structure of the input. The best known quantum algorithm for the unconditional problem uses $O(n<sup>{k/(k+1)})$ queries.