Spanning Connectivity of the Power of a Graph and Hamilton-Connected Index of a Graph

Let G = (V, E) be a connected graph. The hamiltonian index h(G) (Hamilton-connected index hc(G)) of G is the least nonnegative integer k for which the iterated line graph L ^k (G) is hamiltonian (Hamilton-connected). In this paper we show the following. (a) If |V(G)| ≥ k + 1 ≥ 4, then in G ^k , for any pair of distinct vertices {u, v}, there exists k internally disjoint (u, v)-paths that contains all vertices of G; (b) for a tree T,  h(T) ≤ hc(T) ≤ h(T) + 1, and for a unicyclic graph G,  h(G) ≤ hc(G) ≤ max{h(G) + 1, k′ + 1}, where k′ is the length of a longest path with all vertices on the cycle such that the two ends of it are of degree at least 3 and all internal vertices are of degree 2; (c) we also characterize the trees and unicyclic graphs G for which hc(G) = h(G) + 1.     

Bipartite rainbow numbers of matchings

Given two graphs G and H, let f(G,H) denote the maximum number c for which there is a way to color the edges of G with c colors such that every subgraph H of G has at least two edges of the same color. Equivalently, any edge-coloring of G with at least rb(G,H)=f(G,H)+1 colors contains a rainbow copy of H, where a rainbow subgraph of an edge-colored graph is such that no two edges of it have the same color. The number rb(G,H) is called the rainbow number ofHwith respect toG, and simply called the bipartite rainbow number ofH if G is the complete bipartite graph K_m,n. Erd?s, Simonovits and Sós showed that rb(K_n,K₃)=n. In 2004, Schiermeyer determined the rainbow numbers rb(K_n,K_k) for all n≥k≥4, and the rainbow numbers rb(K_n,kK₂) for all k≥2 and n≥3k+3. In this paper we will determine the rainbow numbers rb(K_m,n,kK₂) for all k≥1.     

An existence theorem for antichains

Let k₁, k₂,…, k_n be given integers, 1 ? k₁ ? k₂ ? … ? k_n, and let S be the set of vectors x = (x₁,…, x_n) with integral coefficients satisfying 0 ? x_i ? k_i, i = 1, 2, 3,…, n. A subset H of S is an antichain (or Sperner family or clutter) if and only if for each pair of distinct vectors x and y in H the inequalities x_i ? y_i, i = 1, 2,…, n, do not all hold. Let |H| denote the number of vectors in H, let K = k₁ + k₂ + … + k_n and for 0 ? l ? K let (l)H denote the subset of H consisting of vectors h = (h₁, h₂,…, h_n) which satisfy h₁ + h₂ + … + h_n = l. In this paper we show that if H is an antichain in S, then there exists an antichain H′ in S for which |(l)H′| = 0 if $\text{l <}\text{K}\text{2}$, $\text{|(}\text{K}\text{2}\text{)H′| = |(}\text{K}\text{2}\text{)H|}$ if K is even and |(l)H′| = |(l)H| + |(K ? l)H| if $\text{l>}\text{K}\text{2}$.     

Odd‐angulated graphs and cancelling factors in box products

Under what conditions is it true that if there is a graph homomorphism G □ H → G □ T, then there is a graph homomorphism H→ T? Let G be a connected graph of odd girth 2k + 1. We say that G is (2k + 1)‐angulated if every two vertices of G are joined by a path each of whose edges lies on some (2k + 1)‐cycle. We call G strongly (2k + 1)‐angulated if every two vertices are connected by a sequence of (2k + 1)‐cycles with consecutive cycles sharing at least one edge. We prove that if G is strongly (2k + 1)‐angulated, H is any graph, S, T are graphs with odd girth at least 2k + 1, and ?: G□ H→S□T is a graph homomorphism, then either ? maps G□{h} to S□{t_h} for all h∈V(H) where t_h∈V(T) depends on h; or ? maps G□{h} to {s_h}□ T for all h∈V(H) where s_h∈V(S) depends on h. This theorem allows us to prove several sufficient conditions for a cancelation law of a graph homomorphism between two box products with a common factor. We conclude the article with some open questions. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 58:221‐238, 2008     

Degree conditions for the partition of a graph into cycles, edges and isolated vertices

Let k,n be integers with 2≤k≤n, and let G be a graph of order n. We prove that if max{d_G(x),d_G(y)}≥(n−k+1)/2 for any x,y∈V(G) with x≠y and xy∉E(G), then G has k vertex-disjoint subgraphs H₁,…,H_k such that V(H₁)∪?∪V(H_k)=V(G) and H_i is a cycle or K₁ or K₂ for each 1≤i≤k, unless k=2 and G=C₅, or k=3 and G=K₁∪C₅.     

Hall parameters of complete and complete bipartite graphs

Given a graph G, for each υ ∈V(G) let L(υ) be a list assignment to G. The well‐known choice number c(G) is the least integer j such that if |L(υ)| ≥j for all υ ∈V(G), then G has a proper vertex colouring ? with ?(υ) ∈ L (υ) (?υ ∈V(G)). The Hall number h(G) is like the choice number, except that an extra non‐triviality condition, called Hall's condition, has to be satisfied by the list assignment. The edge‐analogue of the Hall number is called the Hall index, h′(G), and the total analogue is called the total Hall number, h″(G), of G. If the stock of colours from which L(υ) is selected is restricted to a set of size k, then the analogous numbers are called k‐restricted, or restricted, Hall parameters, and are denoted by h_k(G), h′_k(G) and h″_k(G). Our main object in this article is to determine, or closely bound, h′(K), h″(K_n), h′(K_m,n) and h′_k(K_m,n). We also answer some hitherto unresolved questions about Hall parameters. We show in particular that there are examples of graphs G with h′(G)?h′(G ? e)>1. We show that there are examples of graphs G and induced subgraphs H with h_k(G)<h_k(H) [this phenomenon cannot occur with unrestricted Hall numbers]. We also give an example of a graph G and an integer k such that h_k(G)<χ(G)<h(G). © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 41: 208–237, 2002     

On Lie algebra decompositions related to spherical homogeneous spaces

LetG be a connected, reductive, linear algebraic group over an algebraically closed fieldk of characteristik zero. LetH ₁ andH ₂ be two spherical subgroups ofG. It is shown that for allg in a Zariski open subset ofG one has a Lie algebra decomposition g = h₁ + Adg ? h₂, where a is the Lie algebra of a torus and dim a ≤ min (rankG/H ₁,rankG/H ₂). As an application one obtains an estimate of the transcendence degree of the fieldk(G/H ₁ xG/H ₂) ^G for the diagonal action ofG. Ifk = ? andG _a is a real form ofG defined by an antiholomorphic involution σ :G→G then for a spherical subgroup H ? G and for allg in a Hausdorff open subset ofG one has a decomposition g = g_a + a Adg ? h, where a is the Lie algebra of σ-invariant torus and dim a ≤ rankG/H.     

Distances in orientations of graphs

We prove that there is a function h(k) such that every undirected graph G admits an orientation H with the following property: If an edge uv belongs to a cycle of length k in G, then uv or vu belongs to a directed cycle of length at most h(k) in H. Next, we show that every undirected bridgeless graph of radius r admits an orientation of radius at most r² + r, and this bound is best possible. We consider the same problem with radius replaced by diameter. Finilly, we show that the problem of deciding whether an undirected graph admits an orientation of diameter (resp. radius) 2 belongs to a class of problems called NP-hard.     

Total chromatic number of graphs with small genus

Given a graph G, a total k-coloring of G is a simultaneous coloring of the vertices and edges of G with k colors. Denote χ_ve (G) the total chromatic number of G, and c(Σ) the Euler characteristic of a surfase Σ. In this paper, we prove that for any simple graph G which can be embedded in a surface Σ with Euler characteristic c(Σ), χ_ve (G) = Δ (G) + 1 if c(Σ) > 0 and Δ (G) ≥ 13, or, if c(Σ) = 0 and Δ (G) ≥ 14. This result generalizes results in [3], [4], [5] by Borodin.     

Nonorientable genus of nearly complete bipartite graphs

LetG(m, n, k), m, n≥3,k≤min(m, n), be the graph obtained from the complete bipartite graphK _m,n by deleting an arbitrary set ofk independent edges, and let $$f(m,n,k) = [(m - 2)(n - 2) - k]/2.$$ It is shown that the nonorientable genus \(\tilde \gamma \) (G(m, n, k)) of the graphG(m, n, k) is equal to the upper integer part off(m, n, k), except in trivial cases wheref(m, n, k)≤0 and possibly in some extreme cases, the graphsG(k, k, k) andG(k + 1,k, k). These cases are also discussed, obtaining some positive and some negative results. In particular, it is shown thatG(5, 4, 4) andG(5, 5, 5) have no nonorientable quadrilateral embedding.     

Multiple vertex coverings by specified induced subgraphs

Given graphs H₁,…, H_k, let f(H₁,…, H_k) be the minimum order of a graph G such that for each i, the induced copies of H_i in G cover V(G). We prove constructively that f(H₁, H₂) ≤ 2(n(H₁) + n(H₂) − 2); equality holds when H₁ = H ₂ = K_n. We prove that f(H₁, K _n) = n + 2√δ(H₁)n + O(1) as n → ∞. We also determine f(K_{1, m −1}, K _n) exactly. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 34: 180–190, 2000     

Cyclic quartic fields and genus theory of their subfields

Let k = $\text{Q}$(√u) (u ≠ 1 squarefree), K any possible cyclic quartic field containing k. A close relation is established between K and the genus group of k. In particular: (1) Each K can be written uniquely as K = $\text{Q}$(√vwη), where η is fixed in k and satisfies η ? 1, (η) = $\text{U}$²√u, |$\text{U}$²| = |(√u)|, (v, u) = 1, v ∈ $\text{Z}$ is squarefree, w|u, 0 < w < √u. Thus if u ≠ a² + b², there is no K ? k. If u = a² + b² then for each fixed v there are 2^{g ? 1}K ? k, where g is the number of prime divisors of u. (2) $\text{K}\text{k}$ has a relative integral basis (RIB) (i.e., O_K is free over O_k) iff N(ε₀) = ?1 and w = 1, where ε₀ is the fundamental unit of k, (or, equivalently, iff K = $\text{Q}$(√vε₀√u), (v, u) = 1). (3) A RIB is constructed explicitly whenever it exists. (4) disc(K) is given. In particular, the following results are special cases of (2): (i) Narkiewicz showed in 1974 that $\text{K}\text{k}$ has a RIB if u is a prime; (ii) Edgar and Peterson (J. Number Theory12 (1980), 77–83) showed that for u composite there is at least one K ? k having no RIB. Besides, it follows from (4) that the classification and integral basis of K given by Albert (Ann. of Math.31 (1930), 381–418) are wrong.     

The number of Hamiltonian circuits

G = 〈V(G), E(G)〉 denotes a directed graph without loops and multiple arrows. $\text{K}$(G) denotes the set of all Hamiltonian circuits of G. Put H(n, r) = max{|E(G)|, |V(G)| = n, 1 ≤ |$\text{K}$(G)| ≤ r}. Theorem: $\text{H(n, 1) = (}\text{n}{}^2\text{2}\text{) + (}\text{n}\text{2}\text{) ?1}$. Further, H(n, 2),…, H(n, 5) are given.     

The equivariant topology of stable Kneser graphs

The stable Kneser graph SG_n,k, n?1, k?0, introduced by Schrijver (1978) [19], is a vertex critical graph with chromatic number k+2, its vertices are certain subsets of a set of cardinality m=2n+k. Björner and de Longueville (2003) [5] have shown that its box complex is homotopy equivalent to a sphere, Hom(K₂,SG_n,k)?Sk. The dihedral group D2m acts canonically on SG_n,k, the group C₂ with 2 elements acts on K₂. We almost determine the (C₂×D2m)-homotopy type of Hom(K₂,SG_n,k) and use this to prove the following results.The graphs SG_2s,4 are homotopy test graphs, i.e. for every graph H and r?0 such that Hom(SG_2s,4,H) is (r−1)-connected, the chromatic number χ(H) is at least r+6.If k∉{0,1,2,4,8} and n?N(k) then SG_n,k is not a homotopy test graph, i.e. there are a graph G and an r?1 such that Hom(SG_n,k,G) is (r−1)-connected and χ(G)<r+k+2.     

A special f-edge cover-coloring of multigraphs

An edge cover-coloring of G is called a special (f,g)-edge cover-coloring, if each color appears at each vertex at least f(v) times and the number of multiple edges receive the same color is at most g(vw) for vw∈E(G). Let $\chi_{f_{g}}''$ denote the maximum positive integer k for which using k colors a special (f,g)-edge cover-coloring of G exists. The existence of $\chi_{f_{g}}''$ is discussed and the lower bound of $\chi_{f_{g}}''$ is obtained.     

On the chromaticity of complete multipartite graphs with certain edges added

Let P(G,λ) be the chromatic polynomial of a graph G. A graph G is chromatically unique if for any graph H, P(H,λ)=P(G,λ) implies H is isomorphic to G. For integers k≥0, t≥2, denote by K((t−1)×p,p+k) the complete t-partite graph that has t−1 partite sets of size p and one partite set of size p+k. Let K(s,t,p,k) be the set of graphs obtained from K((t−1)×p,p+k) by adding a set S of s edges to the partite set of size p+k such that 〈S〉 is bipartite. If s=1, denote the only graph in K(s,t,p,k) by K⁺((t−1)×p,p+k). In this paper, we shall prove that for k=0,1 and p+k≥s+2, each graph G∈K(s,t,p,k) is chromatically unique if and only if 〈S〉 is a chromatically unique graph that has no cut-vertex. As a direct consequence, the graph K⁺((t−1)×p,p+k) is chromatically unique for k=0,1 and p+k≥3.     

Finding a monochromatic subgraph or a rainbow path

For simple graphs G and H, let f(G,H) denote the least integer N such that every coloring of the edges of K_N contains either a monochromatic copy of G or a rainbow copy of H. Here we investigate f(G,H) when H = P_k. We show that even if the number of colors is unrestricted when defining f(G,H), the function f(G,P_k), for k = 4 and 5, equals the (k ? 2)‐ coloring diagonal Ramsey number of G. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory     

Dynamic list coloring of bipartite graphs

A dynamic coloring of a graph is a proper coloring of its vertices such that every vertex of degree more than one has at least two neighbors with distinct colors. The least number of colors in a dynamic coloring of G, denoted by χ₂(G), is called the dynamic chromatic number of G. The least integer k, such that if every vertex of G is assigned a list of k colors, then G has a proper (resp. dynamic) coloring in which every vertex receives a color from its own list, is called the choice number of G, denoted by ch(G) (resp. the dynamic choice number, denoted by ch₂(G)). It was recently conjectured (Akbari et al. (2009) [1]) that for any graph G, ch₂(G)=max(ch(G),χ₂(G)). In this short note we disprove this conjecture. We first give an example of a small planar bipartite graph G with ch(G)=χ₂(G)=3 and ch₂(G)=4. Then, for any integer k≥5, we construct a bipartite graph G_k such that ch(G_k)=χ₂(G_k)=3 and ch₂(G)≥k.     

Unavoidable subgraphs of colored graphs

A natural generalization of graph Ramsey theory is the study of unavoidable sub-graphs in large colored graphs. In this paper, we find a minimal family of unavoidable graphs in two-edge-colored graphs. Namely, for a positive even integer k, let S_k be the family of two-edge-colored graphs on k vertices such that one of the colors forms either two disjoint K_k/2's or simply one K_k/2. Bollobás conjectured that for all k and ε>0, there exists an n(k,ε) such that if n?n(k,ε) then every two-edge-coloring of K_n, in which the density of each color is at least ε, contains a member of this family. We solve this conjecture and present a series of results bounding n(k,ε) for different ranges of ε. In particular, if ε is sufficiently close to , the gap between our upper and lower bounds for n(k,ε) is smaller than those for the classical Ramsey number R(k,k).     

Star-critical Ramsey numbers

The graph Ramsey numberR(G,H) is the smallest integer r such that every 2-coloring of the edges of K_r contains either a red copy of G or a blue copy of H. We find the largest star that can be removed from K_r such that the underlying graph is still forced to have a red G or a blue H. Thus, we introduce the star-critical Ramsey numberr_∗(G,H) as the smallest integer k such that every 2-coloring of the edges of K_r−K_1,r−1−k contains either a red copy of G or a blue copy of H. We find the star-critical Ramsey number for trees versus complete graphs, multiple copies of K₂ and K₃, and paths versus a 4-cycle. In addition to finding the star-critical Ramsey numbers, the critical graphs are classified for R(T_n,K_m), R(nK₂,mK₂) and R(P_n,C₄).