Minimal Euclidean representations of graphs

A simple graph G is representable in a real vector space of dimension m, if there is an embedding of the vertex set in the vector space such that the Euclidean distance between any two distinct vertices is one of only two distinct values, α and β, with distance α if the vertices are adjacent and distance β otherwise. The Euclidean representation number of G is the smallest dimension in which G is representable. In this note, we bound the Euclidean representation number of a graph using multiplicities of the eigenvalues of the adjacency matrix. We also give an exact formula for the Euclidean representation number using the main angles of the graph.     

On an open problem concerning total domination critical graphs

A graph G   with no isolated vertex is total domination vertex critical if for any vertex v$v$ of G   that is not adjacent to a vertex of degree one, the total domination number of G-v$G-v$ is less than the total domination number of G  . We call these graphs _γt${\gamma }_t$-critical. If such a graph G has total domination number k, we call it k  -_γt${\gamma }_t$-critical. We verify an open problem of k  -_γt${\gamma }_t$-critical graphs and obtain some results on the characterization of total domination critical graphs of order n=Δ(G)(_γt(G)-1)+1$n=\Delta (G)({\gamma }_t(G)-1)+1$.     

Orthogonal representations over finite fields and the chromatic number of graphs

We study the relationship between the minimum dimension of an orthogonal representation of a graph over a finite field and the chromatic number of its complement. It turns out that for some classes of matrices defined by a graph the 3-colorability problem is equivalent to deciding whether the class defined by the graph contains a matrix of rank 3 or not. This implies the NP-hardness of determining the minimum rank of a matrix in such a class. Finally we give for any class of matrices defined by a graph that is interesting in this respect a reduction of the 3-colorability problem to the problem of deciding whether or not this class contains a matrix of rank equal to three.The author is financially supported by the Cooperation Centre Tilburg and Eindhoven Universities.     

Euclidean embeddings of finite metric spaces

This is a brief survey on Euclidean embeddings of finite metric spaces, focusing on the power transform metric with many examples. Some old results are presented in slightly improved forms, and the last section contains a few new results. Proofs are given if they are elementary and not too long. Several problems and conjectures are also given.     

On the Burkard-Hammer condition for hamiltonian split graphs

A graph G=(V,E) is called a split graph if there exists a partition V=I∪K such that the subgraphs of G induced by I and K are empty and complete graphs, respectively. In 1980, Burkard and Hammer gave a necessary but not sufficient condition for hamiltonian split graphs with |I|<|K|. In this paper, we show that the Burkard-Hammer condition is also sufficient for the existence of a Hamilton cycle in a split graph G such that 5≠|I|<|K| and the minimum degree δ(G)?|I|-3. For the case 5=|I|<|K|, all split graphs satisfying the Burkard-Hammer condition but having no Hamilton cycles are also described.     

On directed zero-divisor graphs of finite rings

For an artinian ring R, the directed zero-divisor graph Γ(R) is connected if and only if there is no proper one-sided identity element in R. Sinks and sources are characterized and clarified for a finite ring R. Especially, it is proved that for any ring R, if there exists a source y in Γ(R) with y²=0, then |R|=4 and R={0,x,y,z}, where x and z are left identity elements and yx=0=yz. Such a ring R is also the only ring such that Γ(R) has exactly one source. This shows that Γ(R) cannot be a network for any finite or infinite ring R.     

On locally primitive Cayley graphs of finite simple groups

In this paper we investigate locally primitive Cayley graphs of finite nonabelian simple groups. First, we prove that, for any valency d for which the Weiss conjecture holds (for example, d?20 or d is a prime number by Conder, Li and Praeger (2000) [1]), there exists a finite list of groups such that if G is a finite nonabelian simple group not in this list, then every locally primitive Cayley graph of valency d on G is normal. Next we construct an infinite family of p-valent non-normal locally primitive Cayley graph of the alternating group for all prime p?5. Finally, we consider locally primitive Cayley graphs of finite simple groups with valency 5 and determine all possible candidates of finite nonabelian simple groups G such that the Cayley graph Cay(G,S) might be non-normal.     

The connectivities of locally finite primitive graphs

Let be an infinite, locally finite graph whose automorphism group is primitive on its vertex set. It is shown that the connectivity of cannot equal 2, but all other values 0, 1, 3, 4, ... are possible.     

On tree‐decompositions of one‐ended graphs

A graph is one‐ended if it contains a ray (a one way infinite path) and whenever we remove a finite number of vertices from the graph then what remains has only one component which contains rays. A vertex v dominates a ray in the end if there are infinitely many paths connecting v to the ray such that any two of these paths have only the vertex v in common. We prove that if a one‐ended graph contains no ray which is dominated by a vertex and no infinite family of pairwise disjoint rays, then it has a tree‐decomposition such that the decomposition tree is one‐ended and the tree‐decomposition is invariant under the group of automorphisms. This can be applied to prove a conjecture of Halin from 2000 that the automorphism group of such a graph cannot be countably infinite and solves a recent problem of Boutin and Imrich. Furthermore, it implies that every transitive one‐ended graph contains an infinite family of pairwise disjoint rays.     

On the equational graphs over finite fields

In this paper, we generalize the notion of functional graph. Specifically, given an equation $E(X,Y)=0$ with variables X and Y over a finite field ${\mathbb{F}}_q$ of odd characteristic, we define a digraph by choosing the elements in ${\mathbb{F}}_q$ as vertices and drawing an edge from x to y if and only if $E(x,y)=0$. We call this graph as equational graph. In this paper, we study the equational graph when choosing $E(X,Y)=(Y^2-f(X))(\lambda Y^2-f(X))$ with $f(X)$ a polynomial over ${\mathbb{F}}_q$ and λ a non-square element in ${\mathbb{F}}_q$. We show that if f is a permutation polynomial over ${\mathbb{F}}_q$, then every connected component of the graph has a Hamiltonian cycle. Moreover, these Hamiltonian cycles can be used to construct balancing binary sequences. By making computations for permutation polynomials f of low degree, it appears that almost all these graphs are strongly connected, and there are many Hamiltonian cycles in such a graph if it is connected.     

On a combinatorial property of choice functions of finite sets

We consider choice functions k[X]→X, where X is a finite set and k[X] denotes the set of all k-subsets of X. We define a property of domination for such maps generalizing the classical case k=2 (tournaments) and prove the existence of a dominating element generalizing the existence of a 2-root (king) in the classical case.     

On a matroid defined by ear-decompositions of graphs

A. Frank described in [1] an algorithm to determine the minimum number of edges in a graph G whose contraction leaves a factor-critical graph and he asked if there was an algorithm for the weighted version of the problem. We prove that the minimal critical-making edge-sets form the bases of a matroid and hence the matroid greedy algorithm gives rise to the desired algorithm.Partially supported by OTKA F014919, OTKA T17181 and OTKA T17580.     

On a problem of spencer

LetX ₁, ...,X _n be events in a probability space. Let ϱ_i be the probabilityX _i occurs. Let ϱ be the probability that none of theX _i occur. LetG be a graph on [n] so that for 1 ≦i≦n X _i is independent of ≈X _j ‖(i, j)∉G≈. Letf(d) be the sup of thosex such that if ϱ₁, ..., ϱ _n ≦x andG has maximum degree ≦d then ϱ>0. We showf(1)=1/2,f(d)=(d−1) ^d−1 d ^−d ford≧2. Hence df(d)=1/e. This answers a question posed by Spencer in [2]. We also find a sharp bound for ϱ in terms of the ϱ _i andG.     

On tricyclic graphs of a given diameter with minimal energy

The energy of a graph is defined as the sum of the absolute values of all the eigenvalues of the graph. Let G(n,d) be the class of tricyclic graphs G on n vertices with diameter d and containing no vertex disjoint odd cycles C_p,C_q of lengths p and q with p+q≡2(mod4). In this paper, we characterize the graphs with minimal energy in G(n,d).     

On the Laplacian spectral radii of bipartite graphs

The Laplacian spectral radius of a graph is the largest eigenvalue of the associated Laplacian matrix. In this paper, we provide structural and behavioral details of graphs with maximum Laplacian spectral radius among all bipartite connected graphs of given order and size. Using these results, we provide a unified approach to determine the graphs with maximum Laplacian spectral radii among all trees, and all bipartite unicyclic, bicyclic, tricyclic and quasi-tree graphs, respectively.     

On 3-skein isomorphisms of graphs

It is shown that a 3-skein isomorphism between 3-connected graphs with at least 5 vertices is induced by an isomorphism. These graphs have no loops but may be infinite and have multiple edges.