The harmonious coloring problem is NP-complete for interval and permutation graphs

In this paper, we prove that the harmonious coloring problem is NP-complete for connected interval and permutation graphs. Given a simple graph G, a harmonious coloring of G is a proper vertex coloring such that each pair of colors appears together on at most one edge. The harmonious chromatic number is the least integer k for which G admits a harmonious coloring with k colors. Extending previous work on the NP-completeness of the harmonious coloring problem when restricted to the class of disconnected graphs which are simultaneously cographs and interval graphs, we prove that the problem is also NP-complete for connected interval and permutation graphs.     

Precoloring Extension of Co-Meyniel Graphs

The pre-coloring extension problem consists, given a graph G and a set of nodes to which some colors are already assigned, in finding a coloring of G with the minimum number of colors which respects the pre-coloring assignment. This can be reduced to the usual coloring problem on a certain contracted graph. We prove that pre-coloring extension is polynomial for complements of Meyniel graphs. We answer a question of Hujter and Tuza by showing that “PrExt perfect” graphs are exactly the co-Meyniel graphs, which also generalizes results of Hujter and Tuza and of Hertz. Moreover we show that, given a co-Meyniel graph, the corresponding contracted graph belongs to a restricted class of perfect graphs (“co-Artemis” graphs, which are “co-perfectly contractile” graphs), whose perfectness is easier to establish than the strong perfect graph theorem. However, the polynomiality of our algorithm still depends on the ellipsoid method for coloring perfect graphs. C.N.R.S. Final version received: January, 2007     

Four classes of perfectly orderable graphs

A graph is called “perfectly orderable” if its vertices can be ordered in such a way that, for each induced subgraph F, a certain “greedy” coloring heuristic delivers an optimal coloring of F. No polynomial-time algorithm to recognize these graphs is known. We present four classes of perfectly orderable graphs: Welsh–Powell perfect graphs, Matula perfect graphs, graphs of Dilworth number at most three, and unions of two threshold graphs. Graphs in each of the first three classes are recognizable in a polynomial time. In every graph that belongs to one of the first two classes, we can find a largest clique and an optimal coloring in a linear time.     

Uniquely colorable perfect graphs

This paper defines the concept of sequential coloring. If G or its complement is one of four major types of perfect graphs, G is shown to be uniquely k-colorable it and only if it is sequentially k-colorable. It is conjectured that this equivalence is true for all perfect graphs. A potential role for sequential coloring in verifying the Strong Perfect Graph Conjecture is discussed. This conjecture is shown to be true for strongly sequentially colorable graphs.     

Perfect and locally perfect colorings

We present a new algorithm for coloring perfect graphs and use it to color the parity orderable graphs, a class which strictly contains parity graphs. Also, we modify this algorithm to obtain an O(m² + n) locally perfect coloring algorithm for parity graphs. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Exploring the complexity boundary between coloring and?list-coloring

Many classes of graphs where the vertex coloring problem is polynomially solvable are known, the most prominent being the class of perfect graphs. However, the list-coloring problem is NP-complete for many subclasses of perfect graphs. In this work we explore the complexity boundary between vertex coloring and list-coloring on such subclasses of perfect graphs where the former admits polynomial-time algorithms but the latter is NP-complete. Our goal is to analyze the computational complexity of coloring problems lying “between” (from a computational complexity viewpoint) these two problems: precoloring extension, μ-coloring, and (γ,μ)-coloring. Flavia Bonomo partially supported by UBACyT Grants X606 and X069 (Argentina), and CNPq under PROSUL project Proc. 490333/2004-4 (Brazil). Guillermo Durán partially supported by FONDECyT Grant 1080286 and Millennium Science Institute “Complex Engineering Systems” (Chile), and CNPq under PROSUL project Proc. 490333/2004-4 (Brazil). Javier Marenco partially supported by UBACyT Grant X069 (Argentina), and CNPq under PROSUL project Proc. 490333/2004-4 (Brazil).     

Acyclic edge coloring of subcubic graphs

An acyclic edge coloring of a graph is a proper edge coloring such that there are no bichromatic cycles. The acyclic chromatic index of a graph is the minimum number k such that there is an acyclic edge coloring using k colors and it is denoted by a^′(G). From a result of Burnstein it follows that all subcubic graphs are acyclically edge colorable using five colors. This result is tight since there are 3-regular graphs which require five colors. In this paper we prove that any non-regular connected graph of maximum degree 3 is acyclically edge colorable using at most four colors. This result is tight since all edge maximal non-regular connected graphs of maximum degree 3 require four colors.     

Claw‐free circular‐perfect graphs

The circular chromatic number of a graph is a well‐studied refinement of the chromatic number. Circular‐perfect graphs form a superclass of perfect graphs defined by means of this more general coloring concept. This article studies claw‐free circular‐perfect graphs. First, we prove that if G is a connected claw‐free circular‐perfect graph with χ(G)>ω(G), then min{α(G), ω(G)}=2. We use this result to design a polynomial time algorithm that computes the circular chromatic number of claw‐free circular‐perfect graphs. A consequence of the strong perfect graph theorem is that minimal imperfect graphs G have min{α(G), ω(G)}=2. In contrast to this result, it is shown in Z. Pan and X. Zhu [European J Combin 29(4) (2008), 1055–1063] that minimal circular‐imperfect graphs G can have arbitrarily large independence number and arbitrarily large clique number. In this article, we prove that claw‐free minimal circular‐imperfect graphs G have min{α(G), ω(G)}≤3. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 65: 163–172, 2010     

Combinatorial optimization with 2-joins

A 2-join is an edge cutset that naturally appears in decomposition of several classes of graphs closed under taking induced subgraphs, such as perfect graphs and claw-free graphs. In this paper we construct combinatorial polynomial time algorithms for finding a maximum weighted clique, a maximum weighted stable set and an optimal coloring for a class of perfect graphs decomposable by 2-joins: the class of perfect graphs that do not have a balanced skew partition, a 2-join in the complement, nor a homogeneous pair. The techniques we develop are general enough to be easily applied to finding a maximum weighted stable set for another class of graphs known to be decomposable by 2-joins, namely the class of even-hole-free graphs that do not have a star cutset.We also give a simple class of graphs decomposable by 2-joins into bipartite graphs and line graphs, and for which finding a maximum stable set is NP-hard. This shows that having holes all of the same parity gives essential properties for the use of 2-joins in computing stable sets.     

A generalization of simplicial elimination orderings

We consider the class of graphs where every induced subgraph possesses a vertex whose neighborhood has no P₄ and no 2K₂. We prove that Berge's Strong Perfect Graph Conjecture holds for such graphs. The class generalizes several well-known families of perfect graphs, such as triangulated graphs and bipartite graphs. Testing membership in this class and computing the maximum clique size for a graph in this class is not hard, but finding an optimal coloring is NP-hard. We give a polynomial-time algorithm for optimally coloring the vertices of such a graph when it is perfect. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

On the structure of bull-free perfect graphs

A bull is a graph obtained by adding a pendant vertex at two vertices of a triangle. Chvátal and Sbihi showed that the Strong Perfect Graph Conjecture holds for bull-free graphs. We show that bull-free perfect graphs are quasi-parity graphs, and that bull-free perfect graphs with no antihole are perfectly contractile. Our proof yields a polynomial algorithm for coloring bull-free strict quasi-parity graphsPartially supported by CNPq, grant 30 1160/91.0     

A Characterization of b‐Perfect Graphs

A b‐coloring is a coloring of the vertices of a graph such that each color class contains a vertex that has a neighbor in all other color classes, and the b‐chromatic number of a graph G is the largest integer k such that G admits a b‐coloring with k colors. A graph is b‐perfect if the b‐chromatic number is equal to the chromatic number for every induced subgraph of G. We prove that a graph is b‐perfect if and only if it does not contain as an induced subgraph a member of a certain list of 22 graphs. This entails the existence of a polynomial‐time recognition algorithm and of a polynomial‐time algorithm for coloring exactly the vertices of every b‐perfect graph. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 71:95–122, 2012     

Some classes of perfectly orderable graphs

In 1981, Chvátal defined the class of perfectly orderable graphs. This class of perfect graphs contains the comparability graphs and the triangulated graphs. In this paper, we introduce four classes of perfectly orderable graphs, including natural generalizations of the comparability and triangulated graphs. We provide recognition algorithms for these four classes. We also discuss how to solve the clique, clique cover, coloring, and stable set problems for these classes.     

A Berge-keeping operation for graphs

We prove that a certain simple operation does not create odd holes or odd antiholes in a graph unless there are already some. In order to apply it, we need a vertex whose neighborhood has a coloring where the union of any two color classes is a connected graph; the operation is the shrinking of each of the color classes. Odd holes and antiholes do have such a vertex, and this property of minimal imperfect graphs implies the strong perfect graph theorem through the results of the paper. Conceivably, this property may be a target in the search for a proof of the strong perfect graph theorem different from the monumental achievement of Chudnovsky, Robertson, Seymour, and Thomas.     

Circular-imperfection of triangle-free graphs

Circular-perfect graphs form a natural superclass of the well-known perfect graphs by means of a more general coloring concept.For perfect graphs, a characterization by means of forbidden subgraphs was recently settled by Chudnovsky et al. [Chudnovsky, M., N. Robertson, P. Seymour, and R. Thomas, The Strong Perfect Graph Theorem, Annals of Mathematics 164 (2006) 51–229]. It is, therefore, natural to ask for an analogous characterization for circular-perfect graphs or, equivalently, for a characterization of all minimally circular-imperfect graphs.Our focus is the circular-(im)perfection of triangle-free graphs. We exhibit several different new infinite families of minimally circular-imperfect triangle-free graphs. This shows that a characterization of circular-perfect graphs by means of forbidden subgraphs is a difficult task, even if restricted to the class of triangle-free graphs. This is in contrary to the perfect case where it is long-time known that the only minimally imperfect triangle-free graphs are the odd holes [Tucker, A., Critical Perfect Graphs and Perfect 3-chromatic Graphs, J. Combin. Theory (B) 23 (1977) 143–149].     

Clique‐coloring some classes of odd‐hole‐free graphs

We consider the problem of clique‐coloring, that is coloring the vertices of a given graph such that no maximal clique of size at least 2 is monocolored. Whereas we do not know any odd‐hole‐free graph that is not 3‐clique‐colorable, the existence of a constant C such that any perfect graph is C‐clique‐colorable is an open problem. In this paper we solve this problem for some subclasses of odd‐hole‐free graphs: those that are diamond‐free and those that are bull‐free. We also prove the NP‐completeness of 2‐clique‐coloring K₄‐free perfect graphs. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 53: 233–249, 2006     

Solving coloring, minimum clique cover and kernel problems on arc intersection graphs of directed paths on a tree

Let T = (V, A) be a directed tree. Given a collection P{\mathcal{P}} of dipaths on T, we can look at the arc-intersection graph I(P,T){I(\mathcal{P},T)} whose vertex set is P{\mathcal{P}} and where two vertices are connected by an edge if the corresponding dipaths share a common arc. Monma and Wei, who started their study in a seminal paper on intersection graphs of paths on a tree, called them DE graphs (for directed edge path graphs) and proved that they are perfect. DE graphs find one of their applications in the context of optical networks. For instance, assigning wavelengths to set of dipaths in a directed tree network consists in finding a proper coloring of the arc-intersection graph. In the present paper, we give

Disjoint clique cutsets in graphs without long holes

A biclique cutset is a cutset that induces the disjoint union of two cliques. A hole is an induced cycle with at least five vertices. A graph is biclique separable if it has no holes and each induced subgraph that is not a clique contains a clique cutset or a biclique cutset. The class of biclique separable graphs contains several well‐studied graph classes, including triangulated graphs. We prove that for the class of biclique separable graphs, the recognition problem, the vertex coloring problem, and the clique problem can be solved efficiently. Our algorithms also yield a proof that biclique separable graphs are perfect. Our coloring algorithm is actually more general and can be applied to graphs that can be decomposed via a special type of biclique cutset. Our algorithms are based on structural results on biclique separable graphs developed in this paper. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 48: 277–298, 2005     

On some properties of 4-regular plane graphs

The d-distance face chromatic number of a connected plane graph is the minimum number of colors in such a coloring of its faces that whenever two distinct faces are at the distance at most d, they receive distinct colors. We estimate 1-distance chromatic number for connected 4-regular plane graphs. We show that 0-distance face chromatic number of any connected multi-3-gonal 4-regular plane graphs is 4. © 1995, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

On classes of minimal circular-imperfect graphs

Circular-perfect graphs form a natural superclass of perfect graphs: on the one hand due to their definition by means of a more general coloring concept, on the other hand as an important class of χ-bound graphs with the smallest non-trivial χ-binding function χ(G)?ω(G)+1.The Strong Perfect Graph Conjecture, recently settled by Chudnovsky et al. [The strong perfect graph theorem, Ann. of Math. 164 (2006) 51-229], provides a characterization of perfect graphs by means of forbidden subgraphs. It is, therefore, natural to ask for an analogous conjecture for circular-perfect graphs, that is for a characterization of all minimal circular-imperfect graphs.At present, not many minimal circular-imperfect graphs are known. This paper studies the circular-(im)perfection of some families of graphs: normalized circular cliques, partitionable graphs, planar graphs, and complete joins. We thereby exhibit classes of minimal circular-imperfect graphs, namely, certain partitionable webs, a subclass of planar graphs, and odd wheels and odd antiwheels. As those classes appear to be very different from a structural point of view, we infer that formulating an appropriate conjecture for circular-perfect graphs, as analogue to the Strong Perfect Graph Theorem, seems to be difficult.