Word maps and spectra of random graph lifts

We study here the spectra of random lifts of graphs. Let G be a finite connected graph, and let the infinite tree T be its universal cover space. If λ₁ and ρ are the spectral radii of G and T respectively, then, as shown by Friedman (Graphs Duke Math J 118 (2003), 19–35), in almost every n‐lift H of G, all “new” eigenvalues of H are ≤ O(λ ρ^1/2). Here we improve this bound to O(λ ρ^2/3). It is conjectured in (Friedman, Graphs Duke Math J 118 (2003) 19–35) that the statement holds with the bound ρ + o(1) which, if true, is tight by (Greenberg, PhD thesis, 1995). For G a bouquet with d/2 loops, our arguments yield a simple proof that almost every d‐regular graph has second eigenvalue O(d^2/3). For the bouquet, Friedman (2008). has famously proved the (nearly?) optimal bound of . Central to our work is a new analysis of formal words. Let w be a formal word in letters g,…,g. The word map associated with w maps the permutations σ₁,…,σ_k ∈ S_n to the permutation obtained by replacing for each i, every occurrence of g_i in w by σ_i. We investigate the random variable X that counts the fixed points in this permutation when the σ_i are selected uniformly at random. The analysis of the expectation ??(X) suggests a categorization of formal words which considerably extends the dichotomy of primitive vs. imprimitive words. A major ingredient of a our work is a second categorization of formal words with the same property. We establish some results and make a few conjectures about the relation between the two categorizations. These conjectures suggest a possible approach to (a slightly weaker version of) Friedman's conjecture. As an aside, we obtain a new conceptual and relatively simple proof of a theorem of A. Nica (Nica, Random Struct Algorithms 5 (1994), 703–730), which determines, for every fixed w, the limit distribution (as n →∞) of X. A surprising aspect of this theorem is that the answer depends only on the largest integer d so that w = u^d for some word u. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2010     

On the minimum size of tight hypergraphs

A k-graph, H = (V, E), is tight if for every surjective mapping f: V → {1,….k} there exists an edge α ? E sicj tjat f|_α is injective. Clearly, 2-graphs are tight if and only if they are connected. Bounds for the minimum number ? of edges in a tight k-graph with n vertices are given. We conjecture that ? for every n and prove the equality when 2n + 1 is prime. From the examples, minimal embeddings of complete graphs into surfaces follow. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Subgraphs smaller than the girth

For graphs A, B, let () denote the number of subsets of nodes of A for which the induced subgraph is B. If G and H both have girth > k, and if () = () for every k-node tree T, then for every k-node forest F, () = (). Say the spread of a tree is the number of nodes in a longest path. If G is regular of degree d, on n nodes, with girth > k, and if F is a forest of total spread ≤k, then the value of () depends only on n and d.     

A generalization of a result of Tran Van Trung on t-designs

We prove that if there exists a t − (v, k, λ) design satisfying the inequality for some positive integer j (where m = min{j, v − k} and n = min {i, t}), then there exists a t − (v + j, k, λ ()) design. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Combin Designs 7: 107–112, 1999     

m‐ary Search trees when m ≥ 27: A strong asymptotics for the space requirements

It is known that the joint distribution of the number of nodes of each type of an m‐ary search tree is asymptotically multivariate normal when m ≤ 26. When m ≥ 27, we show the following strong asymptotics of the random vector X_n = ^t(X, … , X), where X denotes the number of nodes containing i ? 1 keys after having introduced n ? 1 keys in the tree: There exist (nonrandom) vectors X, C, and S and random variables ρ and φ such that (X_n ? nX)/n ? ρ(C cos(τ₂log n + φ) + S sin(τ₂log n + φ)) →_n→∞ 0 almost surely and in L²; σ₂ and τ₂ denote the real and imaginary parts of one of the eigenvalues of the transition matrix, having the second greatest real part. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2004     

On the chromatic number of the general Kneser-graph

Given integers k, n, 2 < k < n, let us define a graph with vertex set V = {F ?{1, 2, …, n}: ∩F = k}, and (F, F') is an edge if |F ∩ F′| ≤ 1. We show that for n > n₀(k) the chromatic number of this graph is (k - 1)() + rs, where n = (k - 1)s + r, 0 ≤ r < k - 1.     

On the number of cycles of given length of a free word in several random permutations

Let w ≠ 1 be a free word in the symbols g₁,…, g_k and their inverses (i.e., an element of the free group F_k). For any s₁,…, s_k, in the group s_n of all permutation of n objects, we denote by w(s₁,…,s_k) ? S_n the permutation obtained by replacing g₁,…, g_k with s₁,…, s_k in the expression of w. Let X (s₁,…, s_k) denote the number of cycles of length L of w(s₁,…, s_k). For fixed w and L, we show that X, viewed as a random variable on S_n^k, has (for n →∞) a Poisson-type limit distribution, which can be computed precisely. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

On invariant measures of extensions of Markov transition functions

By using the LITTLEWOOD matrices A_2n we generalize CLARKSON' S inequalities, or equivalently, we determine the norms ‖A_2n: l(L_P) → l(L_P)‖ completely. The result is compared with the norms ‖A_2n: l → l‖, which are calculated implicitly in PIETSCH [6].     

The determining number of a Cartesian product

A set S of vertices is a determining set for a graph G if every automorphism of G is uniquely determined by its action on S. The determining number of G, denoted Det(G), is the size of a smallest determining set. This paper begins by proving that if G=G□?□G is the prime factor decomposition of a connected graph then Det(G)=max{Det(G)}. It then provides upper and lower bounds for the determining number of a Cartesian power of a prime connected graph. Further, this paper shows that Det(Q_n)=?log₂n?+1 which matches the lower bound, and that Det(K)=?log₃(2n+1)?+1 which for all n is within one of the upper bound. The paper concludes by proving that if H is prime and connected, Det(Hⁿ)=Θ(logn). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory     

On restricted min‐wise independence of permutations

A family of permutations ℱ ⊆ S_n with a probability distribution on it is called k-restricted min-wise independent if we have Pr[min π(X) = π(x)] = 1/|X| for every subset X ⊆ [n] with |X| ≤ k, every x ∈ X, and π ∈ ℱ chosen at random. We present a simple proof of a result of Norin: every such family has size at least Some features of our method might be of independent interest. The best available upper bound for the size of such family is 1 + ∑ (j − 1)(). We show that this bound is tight if the goal is to imitate not the uniform distribution on S_n, but a distribution given by assigning suitable priorities to the elements of [n] (the stationary distribution of the Tsetlin library, or self-organizing lists). This is analogous to a result of Karloff and Mansour for k-wise independent random variables. We also investigate the cases where the min-wise independence condition is required only for sets X of size exactly k (where we have only an Ω(log log n + k) lower bound), or for sets of size k and k − 1 (where we already obtain a lower bound of n − k + 2). © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2003     

The circular chromatic number of the Mycielskian of G

In a search for triangle-free graphs with arbitrarily large chromatic numbers, Mycielski developed a graph transformation that transforms a graph G into a new graph μ(G), we now call the Mycielskian of G, which has the same clique number as G and whose chromatic number equals χ(G) + 1. Chang, Huang, and Zhu [G. J. Chang, L. Huang, & X. Zhu, Discrete Math, to appear] have investigated circular chromatic numbers of Mycielskians for several classes of graphs. In this article, we study circular chromatic numbers of Mycielskians for another class of graphs G. The main result is that χ_c(μ(G)) = χ(μ(G)), which settles a problem raised in [G. J. Chang, L. Huang, & X. Zhu, Discrete Math, to appear, and X. Zhu, to appear]. As χ_c(G) = and χ(G) = , consequently, there exist graphs G such that χ_c(G) is as close to χ(G) − 1 as you want, but χ_c(μ(G)) = χ(μ(G)). © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 32: 63–71, 1999     

Graph minors and linkages

Bollobás and Thomason showed that every 22k‐connected graph is k‐linked. Their result used a dense graph minor. In this paper, we investigate the ties between small graph minors and linkages. In particular, we show that a 6‐connected graph with a K minor is 3‐linked. Further, we show that a 7‐connected graph with a K minor is (2,5)‐linked. Finally, we show that a graph of order n and size at least 7n?29 contains a K minor. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 49: 75–91, 2005     

A note on bipartite subgraphs of triangle-free graphs

Let G be a triangle-free graph on n points with m edges and vertex degrees d₁, d₂,…, d_n. Let k be the maximum number of edges in a bipartite subgraph of G. In this note we show that k ? m/2 + Σ √d_i. It follows as a corollary that k ? m/2 + cm^3/4.     

Entropy Numbers in Weighted Function Spaces and Eigenvalue Distributions of Some Degenerate Pseudodifferential Operators II

This paper is the continuation of [17]. We investigate mapping and spectral properties of pseudodifferential operators of type Ψ with χ χ ? ? and 0 ≤ γ ≤ 1 in the weighted function spaces B (?ⁿ, w(x)) and F (?ⁿ, w(x)) treated in [17]. Furthermore, we study the distribution of eigenvalues and the behaviour of corresponding root spaces for degenerate pseudodifferential operators preferably of type b₂(x) b(x, D) b₁(x), where b₁(x) and b₂(x) are appropriate functions and b(x, D) ? Ψ. Finally, on the basis of the Birman-Schwinger principle, we deal with the “negative spectrum” (bound states) of related symmetric operators in L₂.     

Enumeration of graphs by degree sequence

The degree sequence (d₀, d₁, …, d_p-1) of a graph G of order p is defined by d_k = the number of points of G of degree k. Methods of Robinson are extended to produce a generating function F(x₀, x₁, x₂, …) where the coefficient of x…x is the number of graphs of order p having degree sequence (d₀, …, d_p-1).     

Cycle decompositions of complete multigraphs

In this paper we establish necessary and sufficient conditions for decomposing the complete multigraph λK_n into cycles of length λ, and the λ‐fold complete symmetric digraph λK into directed cycles of length λ. As a corollary to these results we obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for decomposing λK_n (respectively, λK) into cycles (respectively, directed cycles) of prime length. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 18: 85–93, 2010     

On the density of 2‐colorable 3‐graphs in which any four points span at most two edges

Let ex₂(n, K) be the maximum number of edges in a 2‐colorable K‐free 3‐graph (where K={123, 124, 134} ). The 2‐chromatic Turán density of K is $\pi_{2}({K}_{4}^-) =lim_{{n}\to \infty} {ex}_{2}({n}, {K}_{4}^-)/\left(_{3}^{n}\right)Let ex₂(n, K) be the maximum number of edges in a 2‐colorable K‐free 3‐graph (where K={123, 124, 134} ). The 2‐chromatic Turán density of K is $\pi_{2}({K}_{4}^-) =lim_{{n}\to \infty} {ex}_{2}({n}, {K}_{4}^-)/\left(_{3}^{n}\right)$. We improve the previously best known lower and upper bounds of 0.25682 and 3/10?ε, respectively, by showing that This implies the following new upper bound for the Turán density of K In order to establish these results we use a combination of the properties of computer‐generated extremal 3‐graphs for small n and an argument based on “super‐saturation”. Our computer results determine the exact values of ex(n, K) for n≤19 and ex₂(n, K) for n≤17, as well as the sets of extremal 3‐graphs for those n. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 18: 105–114, 2010     

Phase transition for Parking blocks,Brownian excursion and coalescence

In this paper, we consider hashing with linear probing for a hashing table with m places, n items (n < m), and ? = m ? n empty places. For a noncomputer science‐minded reader, we shall use the metaphore of n cars parking on m places: each car c_i chooses a place p_i at random, and if p_i is occupied, c_i tries successively p_i + 1, p_i + 2, until it finds an empty place. Pittel [42] proves that when ?/m goes to some positive limit β < 1, the size B of the largest block of consecutive cars satisfies 2(β ? 1 ? log β)B = 2 log m ? 3 log log m + Ξ_m, where Ξ_m converges weakly to an extreme‐value distribution. In this paper we examine at which level for n a phase transition occurs between B = o(m) and m ? B = o(m). The intermediate case reveals an interesting behavior of sizes of blocks, related to the standard additive coalescent in the same way as the sizes of connected components of the random graph are related to the multiplicative coalescent. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 21: 76–119, 2002     

Nodes of large degree in random trees and forests

We study the asymptotic behavior of the number N_k,n of nodes of given degree k in unlabeled random trees, when the tree size n and the node degree k both tend to infinity. It is shown that N_k,n is asymptotically normal if and asymptotically Poisson distributed if . If , then the distribution degenerates. The same holds for rooted, unlabeled trees and forests. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2006     

Bounded branching process and and/or tree evaluation

We study the tail distribution of supercritical branching processes for which the number of offspring of an element is bounded. Given a supercritical branching process {Z_n} with a bounded offspring distribution, we derive a tight bound, decaying super-exponentially fast as c increases, on the probability Pr[Z_n > cE(Z_n)], and a similar bound on the probability Pr[Z_n ≤ E(Z_n)/c] under the assumption that each element generates at least two offspring. As an application, we observe that the execution of a canonical algorithm for evaluating uniform AND/OR trees in certain probabilistic models can be viewed as a two-type supercritical branching process with bounded offspring, and show that the execution time of this algorithm is likely to concentrate around its expectation, with a standard deviation of the same order as the expectation.