The evolution of the min-min random graph process

We study the following min-min random graph process G=(G₀,G₁,…): the initial state G₀ is an empty graph on n vertices (n even). Further, G_M+1 is obtained from G_M by choosing a pair {v,w} of distinct vertices of minimum degree uniformly at random among all such pairs in G_M and adding the edge {v,w}. The process may produce multiple edges. We show that G_M is asymptotically almost surely disconnected if M≤n, and that for M=(1+t)n, constant, the probability that G_M is connected increases from 0 to 1. Furthermore, we investigate the number X of vertices outside the giant component of G_M for M=(1+t)n. For constant we derive the precise limiting distribution of X. In addition, for n⁻¹ln⁴n≤t=o(1) we show that tX converges to a gamma distribution.