Super-Simple Twofold Steiner Pentagon Systems

A twofold pentagon system of order v is a decomposition of the complete undirected 2-multigraph 2K _v into pentagons. A twofold Steiner pentagon system of order v [TSPS(v)] is a twofold pentagon system such that every pair of distinct vertices is joined by a path of length two in exactly two pentagons of the system. A TSPS(v) is said to be super-simple if its underlying (v, 5, 4)-BIBD is super-simple; that is, if any two blocks of the BIBD intersect in at most two points. In this paper, it is shown that the necessary conditions for the existence of a super-simple TSPS(v); namely, v ≥ 15 and v ≡ 0 or 1 (mod 5) are sufficient. For these specified orders, the main result of this paper also guarantees the existence of a very special and interesting class of twofold and fourfold Steiner pentagon systems of order v with the additional property that, for any two vertices, the two or four paths of length two joining them are distinct.     

On a problem of rota

Let S(n, k) denote Stirling numbers of the second kind; for each n, let K_n be such that S(n, K_n) ? S(n, k) for all k. Also, let P(n) denote the lattice of partitions of an n-element set. Say that a collection of partitions from P(n) is incomparable if no two are related by refinement. Rota has asked if for all n, the largest possible incomparable collection in P(n) contains S(n, K_n) partitions. In this paper, we construct for all n sufficiently large an incomparable collection in P(n) containing strictly more than S(n, K_n) partitions. We also estimate how large n must be for this construction to work.     

Twofold 2-perfect bowtie systems with an extra property

A bowtie is a closed trail whose graph consists of two 3-cycles with exactly one vertex in common. A 2-fold bowtie system of order n is an edge-disjoint decomposition of 2K _n into bowties. A 2-fold bowtie system is said to be 2-perfect provided that every pair of distinct vertices is joined by two paths of length 2. It is said to be extra provided these two paths always have distinct midpoints. The extra property guarantees that the two paths x, a, y and x, b, y between every pair of vertices form a 4-cycle (x, a, y, b), and that the collection of all such 4-cycles is a four-fold 4-cycle system. We show that the spectrum for extra 2-perfect 2-fold bowtie systems is precisely the set of all n ?? 0 or 1 (mod 3), ${n\,\geqslant\,6}$ . Additionally, with an obvious definition, we show that the spectrum for extra 2-perfect 2-fold maximum packings of 2K _n with bowties is precisely the set of all n ?? 2 (mod 3), ${n\,\geqslant\,8}$ .     

Extra two-fold Steiner pentagon systems

A two-fold pentagon system is a decomposition of the complete 2-multigraph (every two distinct vertices joined by two edges) into pentagons. A two-fold Steiner pentagon system is a two-fold pentagon system such that every pair of distinct vertices is joined by a path of length two in exactly two pentagons of the system. We consider two-fold Steiner pentagon systems with an additional property : for any two vertices, the two paths of length two joining them are distinct. We determine completely the spectrum for such systems, and point out an application of such systems to certain 4-cycle systems.     

Embedding Steiner triple systems in hexagon triple systems

A hexagon triple is the graph consisting of the three triangles (triples) {a,b,c},{c,d,e}, and {e,f,a}, where a,b,c,d,e, and f are distinct. The triple {a,c,e} is called an inside triple. A hexagon triple system of order n is a pair (X,H) where H is a collection of edge disjoint hexagon triples which partitions the edge set of K_n with vertex set X. The inside triples form a partial Steiner triple system. We show that any Steiner triple system of order n can be embedded in the inside triples of a hexagon triple system of order approximately 3n.     

Halving Steiner 2-designs

A Steiner 2-design S(2,k,v) is said to be halvable if the block set can be partitioned into two isomorphic sets. This is equivalent to an edge-disjoint decomposition of a self-complementary graph G on v vertices into K_ks. The obvious necessary condition of those orders v for which there exists a halvable S(2,k,v) is that v admits the existence of an S(2,k,v) with an even number of blocks. In this paper, we give an asymptotic solution for various block sizes. We prove that for any k?5 or any Mersenne prime k, there is a constant number v₀ such that if v>v₀ and v satisfies the above necessary condition, then there exists a halvable S(2,k,v). We also show that a halvable S(2,2ⁿ,v) exists for over a half of possible orders. Some recursive constructions generating infinitely many new halvable Steiner 2-designs are also presented.     

All graphs with maximum degree three whose complements have 4-cycle decompositions

Let G be the set that contains precisely the graphs on n vertices with maximum degree 3 for which there exists a 4-cycle system of their complement in K_n. In this paper G is completely characterized.     

A Construction of Almost Steiner Systems

Let n, k, and t be integers satisfying . A Steiner system with parameters t, k, and n is a k‐uniform hypergraph on n vertices in which every set of t distinct vertices is contained in exactly one edge. An outstanding problem in Design Theory is to determine whether a nontrivial Steiner system exists for . In this note we prove that for every and sufficiently large n, there exists an almost Steiner system with parameters t, k, and n; that is, there exists a k‐uniform hypergraph on n vertices such that every set of t distinct vertices is covered by either one or two edges.     

Codes and Anticodes in the Grassman Graph

Perfect codes and optimal anticodes in the Grassman graph G_q(n, k) are examined. It is shown that the vertices of the Grassman graph cannot be partitioned into optimal anticodes, with a possible exception when n=2k. We further examine properties of diameter perfect codes in the graph. These codes are known to be similar to Steiner systems. We discuss the connection between these systems and “real” Steiner systems.     

Steiner intervals and Steiner geodetic numbers in distance-hereditary graphs

A Steiner tree for a set S of vertices in a connected graph G is a connected subgraph of G with a smallest number of edges that contains S. The Steiner interval I(S) of S is the union of all the vertices of G that belong to some Steiner tree for S. If S={u,v}, then I(S)=I[u,v] is called the interval between u and v and consists of all vertices that lie on some shortest u-v path in G. The smallest cardinality of a set S of vertices such that ?_u,v∈SI[u,v]=V(G) is called the geodetic number and is denoted by g(G). The smallest cardinality of a set S of vertices of G such that I(S)=V(G) is called the Steiner geodetic number of G and is denoted by sg(G). We show that for distance-hereditary graphs g(G)?sg(G) but that g(G)/sg(G) can be arbitrarily large if G is not distance hereditary. An efficient algorithm for finding the Steiner interval for a set of vertices in a distance-hereditary graph is described and it is shown how contour vertices can be used in developing an efficient algorithm for finding the Steiner geodetic number of a distance-hereditary graph.     

On 3-Steiner simplicial orderings

Let G be a connected graph and S a nonempty set of vertices of G. A Steiner tree for S is a connected subgraph of G containing S that has a minimum number of edges. The Steiner interval for S is the collection of all vertices in G that belong to some Steiner tree for S. Let k≥2 be an integer. A set X of vertices of G is k-Steiner convex if it contains the Steiner interval of every set of k vertices in X. A vertex x∈X is an extreme vertex of X if X?{x} is also k-Steiner convex. We call such vertices k-Steiner simplicial vertices. We characterize vertices that are 3-Steiner simplicial and give characterizations of two classes of graphs, namely the class of graphs for which every ordering produced by Lexicographic Breadth First Search is a 3-Steiner simplicial ordering and the class for which every ordering of every induced subgraph produced by Maximum Cardinality Search is a 3-Steiner simplicial ordering.     

On the existence of rainbows in 1-factorizations of K2n

A 1-factor of a graph G = (V, E) is a collection of disjoint edges which contain all the vertices of V. Given a 2n - 1 edge coloring of K_2n, n ≥ 3, we prove there exists a 1-factor of K_2n whose edges have distinct colors. Such a 1-factor is called a “Rainbow.” © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Combin Designs 6:1–20, 1998     

Perfect dodecagon quadrangle systems

A dodecagon quadrangle is the graph consisting of two cycles: a 12-cycle (x₁,x₂,…,x₁₂) and a 4-cycle (x₁,x₄,x₇,x₁₀). A dodecagon quadrangle system of order n and index ρ [ DQS] is a pair (X,H), where X is a finite set of n vertices and H is a collection of edge disjoint dodecagon quadrangles (called blocks) which partitions the edge set of ρK_n, with vertex set X. A dodecagon quadrangle system of order n is said to be perfect [PDQS] if the collection of 4-cycles contained in the dodecagon quadrangles form a 4-cycle system of order n and index μ. In this paper we determine completely the spectrum of DQSs of index one and of PDQSs with the inside 4-cycle system of index one.     

G-decomposition of Kn, where G has four vertices or less

The complete graph K_n, is said to have a G-decomposition if it is the union of edge disjoint subgraphs each isomorphic to G. The set of values of n for which K_n has a G-decomposition is determined if G has four vertices or less.     

Common circulant homogeneous factorisations of the complete digraph

In this paper we determine the positive integers n and k for which there exists a homogeneous factorisation of a complete digraph on n vertices with k ‘common circulant’ factors. This means a partition of the arc set of the complete digraph K_n into k circulant factor digraphs, such that a cyclic group of order n acts regularly on the vertices of each factor digraph whilst preserving the edges, and in addition, an overgroup of this permutes the factor digraphs transitively amongst themselves. This determination generalises a previous result for self-complementary circulants.     

Embedding 5-cycle systems into pentagon triple systems

We show that the spectrum for pentagon triple systems is the set of all n≡1,15,21 or . We then construct a 5-cycle system of order 10n+1 which can be embedded in a pentagon triple system of order 30n+1 and also construct a 5-cycle system of order 10n+5 which can be embedded in a pentagon triple system of order 30n+15, with the possible exception of embedding a 5-cycle system of order 21 in a pentagon triple system of order 61.     

Cyclic bi‐embeddings of Steiner triple systems on 12s + 7 points

A cyclic face 2‐colourable triangulation of the complete graph K_n in an orientable surface exists for n ≡ 7 (mod 12). Such a triangulation corresponds to a cyclic bi‐embedding of a pair of Steiner triple systems of order n, the triples being defined by the faces in each of the two colour classes. We investigate in the general case the production of such bi‐embeddings from solutions to Heffter's first difference problem and appropriately labelled current graphs. For n = 19 and n = 31 we give a complete explanation for those pairs of Steiner triple systems which do not admit a cyclic bi‐embedding and we show how all non‐isomorphic solutions may be identified. For n = 43 we describe the structures of all possible current graphs and give a more detailed analysis in the case of the Heawood graph. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 10: 92–110, 2002; DOI 10.1002/jcd.10001     

On the signless Laplacian spectral radius of graphs with cut vertices

In this paper, we show that among all the connected graphs with n vertices and k cut vertices, the maximal signless Laplacian spectral radius is attained uniquely at the graph G_n,k, where G_n,k is obtained from the complete graph K_n-k by attaching paths of almost equal lengths to all vertices of K_n-k. We also give a new proof of the analogous result for the spectral radius of the connected graphs with n vertices and k cut vertices (see [A. Berman, X.-D. Zhang, On the spectral radius of graphs with cut vertices, J. Combin. Theory Ser. B 83 (2001) 233-240]). Finally, we discuss the limit point of the maximal signless Laplacian spectral radius.     

Steiner Numbers in Graphs

Abstract

The Steiner distance d(S) of a set S of vertices in a connected graph G is the minimum size of a connected subgraph of G that contains S. The Steiner number s(G) of a connected graph G of order p is the smallest positive integer m for which there exists a set S of m vertices of G such that d(S) = p—1. A smallest set S of vertices of a connected graph G of order p for which d(S) = p—1 is called a Steiner spanning set of G. It is shown that every connected graph has a unique Steiner spanning set. If G is a connected graph of order p and k is an integer with 0 ≤ k ≤ p—1, then the kth Steiner number sk(G) of G is the smallest positive integer m for which there exists a set S of m vertices of G such that d(S) = k. The sequence s_o(G),s₁ (G),…,8_p-1(G) is called the Steiner sequence of G. Steiner sequences for trees are characterized.