On the critical exponents of random k‐SAT

There has been much recent interest in the satisfiability of random Boolean formulas. A random k‐SAT formula is the conjunction of m random clauses, each of which is the disjunction of k literals (a variable or its negation). It is known that when the number of variables n is large, there is a sharp transition from satisfiability to unsatisfiability; in the case of 2‐SAT this happens when m/n → 1, for 3‐SAT the critical ratio is thought to be m/n ≈ 4.2. The sharpness of this transition is characterized by a critical exponent, sometimes called ν = ν_k (the smaller the value of ν the sharper the transition). Experiments have suggested that ν₃ = 1.5 ± 0.1. ν₄ = 1.25 ± 0.05, ν₅ = 1.1 ± 0.05, ν₆ = 1.05 ± 0.05, and heuristics have suggested that ν_k → 1 as k → ∞. We give here a simple proof that each of these exponents is at least 2 (provided the exponent is well defined). This result holds for each of the three standard ensembles of random k‐SAT formulas: m clauses selected uniformly at random without replacement, m clauses selected uniformly at random with replacement, and each clause selected with probability p independent of the other clauses. We also obtain similar results for q‐colorability and the appearance of a q‐core in a random graph. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 21: 182–195, 2002     

The number of k‐SAT functions

We study the number SAT(k; n) of Boolean functions of n variables that can be expressed by a k‐SAT formula. Equivalently, we study the number of subsets of the n‐cube 2ⁿ that can be represented as the union of (n ? k)‐subcubes. In The number of 2‐SAT functions (Isr J Math, 133 (2003), 45–60) the authors and Imre Leader studied SAT(k; n) for k ≤ n/2, with emphasis on the case k = 2. Here, we prove bounds on SAT(k; n) for k ≥ n/2; we see a variety of different types of behavior. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 22: 227–247, 2003     

On the solution‐space geometry of random constraint satisfaction problems

For various random constraint satisfaction problems there is a significant gap between the largest constraint density for which solutions exist and the largest density for which any polynomial time algorithm is known to find solutions. Examples of this phenomenon include random k‐SAT, random graph coloring, and a number of other random constraint satisfaction problems. To understand this gap, we study the structure of the solution space of random k‐SAT (i.e., the set of all satisfying assignments viewed as a subgraph of the Hamming cube). We prove that for densities well below the satisfiability threshold, the solution space decomposes into an exponential number of connected components and give quantitative bounds for the diameter, volume, and number.© 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 38, 251–268, 2011     

On an online random k‐SAT model

Given n Boolean variables x₁,…,x_n, a k‐clause is a disjunction of k literals, where a literal is a variable or its negation. Suppose random k‐clauses are generated one at a time and an online algorithm accepts or rejects each clause as it is generated. Our goal is to accept as many randomly generated k‐clauses as possible with the condition that it must be possible to satisfy every clause that is accepted. When cn random k‐clauses on n variables are given, a natural online algorithm known as Online‐Lazy accepts an expected (1 ? )cn + a_kn clauses for some constant a_k. If these clauses are given offline, it is possible to do much better, (1 ? )cn + Ω( )n can be accepted whp . The question of closing the gap between a_k and Ω( ) for the online version remained open. This article shows that for any k ≥ 1, any online algorithm will accept less than (1 ? )cn + (ln 2)n k‐clauses whp , closing the gap between the constant and Ω( ). Furthermore we show that this bound is asymptotically tight as k → ∞. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2008     

The scaling window of the 2‐SAT transition

We consider the random 2‐satisfiability (2‐SAT) problem, in which each instance is a formula that is the conjunction of m clauses of the form x∨y, chosen uniformly at random from among all 2‐clauses on n Boolean variables and their negations. As m and n tend to infinity in the ratio m/n→α, the problem is known to have a phase transition at α_c=1, below which the probability that the formula is satisfiable tends to one and above which it tends to zero. We determine the finite‐size scaling about this transition, namely the scaling of the maximal window W(n, δ)=(α_?(n,δ), α₊(n,δ)) such that the probability of satisfiability is greater than 1?δ for α<α_? and is less than δ for α>α₊. We show that W(n,δ)=(1?Θ(n^?1/3), 1+Θ(n^?1/3)), where the constants implicit in Θ depend on δ. We also determine the rates at which the probability of satisfiability approaches one and zero at the boundaries of the window. Namely, for m=(1+ε)n, where ε may depend on n as long as |ε| is sufficiently small and |ε|n^1/3 is sufficiently large, we show that the probability of satisfiability decays like exp(?Θ(nε³)) above the window, and goes to one like 1?Θ(n^?1|ε|^?3 below the window. We prove these results by defining an order parameter for the transition and establishing its scaling behavior in n both inside and outside the window. Using this order parameter, we prove that the 2‐SAT phase transition is continuous with an order parameter critical exponent of 1. We also determine the values of two other critical exponents, showing that the exponents of 2‐SAT are identical to those of the random graph. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 18: 201–256 2001     

A continuous–discontinuous second‐order transition in the satisfiability of random Horn‐SAT formulas

We compute the probability of satisfiability of a class of random Horn‐SAT formulae, motivated by a connection with the nonemptiness problem of finite tree automata. In particular, when the maximum clause length is three, this model displays a curve in its parameter space, along which the probability of satisfiability is discontinuous, ending in a second‐order phase transition where it is continuous but its derivative diverges. This is the first case in which a phase transition of this type has been rigorously established for a random constraint satisfaction problem. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2007     

Homological connectivity of random k‐dimensional complexes

Let Δ_n?1 denote the (n ? 1)‐dimensional simplex. Let Y be a random k‐dimensional subcomplex of Δ_n?1 obtained by starting with the full (k ? 1)‐dimensional skeleton of Δ_n?1 and then adding each k‐simplex independently with probability p. Let H_k?1(Y; R) denote the (k ? 1)‐dimensional reduced homology group of Y with coefficients in a finite abelian group R. It is shown that for any fixed R and k ≥ 1 and for any function ω(n) that tends to infinity © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2009     

A Sharp Threshold for k‐Colorability

Let k be a fixed integer and f_k(n, p) denote the probability that the random graph G(n, p) is k‐colorable. We show that for k≥3, there exists d_k(n) such that for any ϵ>0, (1) As a result we conclude that for sufficiently large n the chromatic number of G(n, d/n) is concentrated in one value for all but a small fraction of d>1. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 14, 63–70, 1999     

Inside the critical window for cohomology of random k‐complexes

We prove sharper versions of theorems of Linial–Meshulam and Meshulam–Wallach which describe the behavior for ‐cohomology of a random k‐dimensional simplicial complex within a narrow transition window. In particular, we show that if Y is a random k‐dimensional simplicial complex with each k‐simplex appearing i.i.d. with probability with and fixed, then the dimension of cohomology is asymptotically Poisson distributed with mean . In the k = 2 case we also prove that in an accompanying growth process, with high probability, vanishes exactly at the moment when the last ‐simplex gets covered by a k‐simplex, a higher‐dimensional analogue of a “stopping time” theorem about connectivity of random graphs due to Bollobás and Thomason. Random Struct. Alg., 2015 © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 48, 102–124, 2016     

Poisson convergence in the restricted k‐partitioning problem

The randomized k‐number partitioning problem is the task to distribute N i.i.d. random variables into k groups in such a way that the sums of the variables in each group are as similar as possible. The restricted k‐partitioning problem refers to the case where the number of elements in each group is fixed to N/k. In the case k = 2 it has been shown that the properly rescaled differences of the two sums in the close to optimal partitions converge to a Poisson point process, as if they were independent random variables. We generalize this result to the case k > 2 in the restricted problem and show that the vector of differences between the k sums converges to a k ‐ 1‐dimensional Poisson point process. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2007     

The state of SAT

The papers in this special issue originated at SAT 2001, the Fourth International Symposium on the Theory and Applications of Satisfiability Testing. This foreword reviews the current state of satisfiability testing and places the papers in this issue in context.     

On random k‐out subgraphs of large graphs

We consider random subgraphs of a fixed graph with large minimum degree. We fix a positive integer k and let G_k be the random subgraph where each independently chooses k random neighbors, making kn edges in all. When the minimum degree then G_k is k‐connected w.h.p. for ; Hamiltonian for k sufficiently large. When , then G_k has a cycle of length for . By w.h.p. we mean that the probability of non‐occurrence can be bounded by a function (or ) where . © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 50, 143–157, 2017     

Eigenvalues of the k‐th power of a graph

The k‐th power of a graph G, denoted by , is a graph with the same set of vertices as G such that two vertices are adjacent in if and only if their distance in G is at most k. In this paper, we give the bounds on the spectral radius of and . The Nordhaus–Gaddum‐type inequality for the spectral radius of the graph is also presented. Moreover, we obtain an upper bound on the energy of the second power of graphs.     

On k‐connectivity for a geometric random graph

For n points uniformly randomly distributed on the unit cube in d dimensions, with d≥2, let ρ_n (respectively, σ_n) denote the minimum r at which the graph, obtained by adding an edge between each pair of points distant at most r apart, is k‐connected (respectively, has minimum degree k). Then P[ρ_n=σ_n]→1 as n→∞. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 15, 145–164, 1999     

k‐Kings in k‐Quasitransitive Digraphs

Let D be a digraph with vertex set and arc set . A vertex x is a k‐king of D, if for every , there is an ‐path of length at most k. A subset N of is k‐independent if for every pair of vertices , we have and ; it is l‐absorbent if for every there exists such that . A ‐kernel of D is a k‐independent and l‐absorbent subset of . A k‐kernel is a ‐kernel. A digraph D is k‐quasitransitive, if for any path of length k, x₀ and are adjacent. In this article, we will prove that a k‐quasitransitive digraph with has a k‐king if and only if it has a unique initial strong component and the unique initial strong component is not isomorphic to an extended ‐cycle where each has at least two vertices. Using this fact, we show that every strong k‐quasitransitive digraph has a ‐kernel.     

The VC dimension of k‐uniform random hypergraphs

A set of vertices is shattered in a hypergraph if any of its subsets is obtained as the intersection of an edge with the set. The VC dimension is the size of the largest shattered subset. Under the binomial model of k‐uniform random hypergraphs, the threshold function for the VC dimension to be larger than a given integer is obtained. The same is done for the testing dimension, which is the largest integer d such that all sets of cardinality d are shattered. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2007     

Cycles with two blocks in k‐chromatic digraphs

Let k and ℓ be positive integers. A cycle with two blocks is a digraph obtained by an orientation of an undirected cycle, which consists of two internally (vertex) disjoint paths of lengths at least k and ℓ, respectively, from a vertex to another one. A problem of Addario‐Berry, Havet and Thomassé [J. Combin. Theory Ser. B 97 (2007), 620–626] asked if, given positive integers k and ℓ such that , any strongly connected digraph D containing no has chromatic number at most . In this article, we show that such digraph D has chromatic number at most , improving the previous upper bound of Cohen et al. [Subdivisions of oriented cycles in digraphs with large chromatic number, to appear]. We also show that if in addition D is Hamiltonian, then its underlying simple graph is ‐degenerate and thus the chromatic number of D is at most , which is tight.     

Nonvertex‐Balanced Factors in Random Graphs

We prove part of a conjecture by Johansson, Kahn, and Vu (Factors in random graphs, Random Struct. Algorithms 33 (2008), 1, 1–28.) regarding threshold functions for the existence of an H‐factor in a random graph . We prove that the conjectured threshold function is correct for any graph H which is not covered by its densest subgraphs. We also demonstrate that the main result of Johansson, Kahn, and Vu (Factors in random graphs, Random Struct. Algorithms 33 (2008), 1, 1–28) generalizes to multigraphs, digraphs, and a multipartite model.     

Deformation and rigidity results for the 2k‐Ricci tensor and the 2k‐Gauss‐Bonnet curvature

We present several deformation and rigidity results within the classes of closed Riemannian manifolds which either are 2k‐Einstein (in the sense that their 2k‐Ricci tensor is constant) or have constant 2k‐Gauss‐Bonnet curvature. The results hold for a family of manifolds containing all non‐flat space forms and the main ingredients in the proofs are explicit formulae for the linearizations of the above invariants obtained by means of the formalism of double forms.