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Why there is no constraint on "Prover" in definition of $IP$?

Submitted by: @import:stackexchange-cs··
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Problem

According to the definition of $IP$ given in Sanjeev Arora and Barak there is no constraint on the running time of the "Prover" ( when "verifier" sends a message to the "Prover" and expects a message in return from it ). Why is it so ?
Also the book says the "Prover" might compute some undecidable function. How is that possible ? Am I missing something trivial ?

Solution

There's nothing canonical for what constraint one might put on it. ​ Requiring complete efficiency would give BPP, since the algorithm can just simulate the whole interaction. ​ Requiring efficient-given-a-polynomial-length-string would give MA, since the prover could just send its string to the verifier. ​ It turns out that PSPACE is always enough, so letting the prover be at least that powerful yields the same class as not constraining the prover. ​ I suppose

things from TFUP to [CH given a polynomial-length string] might give intermediate classes.

Context

StackExchange Computer Science Q#55170, answer score: 4

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