A linear-time algorithm for the longest path problem in rectangular grid graphs

The longest path problem is a well-known NP-hard problem and so far it has been solved polynomially only for a few classes of graphs. In this paper, we give a linear-time algorithm for finding a longest path between any two given vertices in a rectangular grid graph.     

Hamiltonian graphs of given order and minimum algebraic connectivity

In this paper, we study the algebraic connectivity of a Hamiltonian graph, and determine all Hamiltonian graphs whose algebraic connectivity attain the minimum among all Hamiltonian graphs on n vertices.     

Hamiltonian and long paths in bipartite graphs with connectivity

Let G be a graph, $\nu (G)$ the order of G, $\kappa (G)$ the connectivity of G and k a positive integer such that $k\le (\nu (G)?2)/2$. Then G is said to be k-extendable if it has a matching of size k and every matching of size k extends to a perfect matching of G. A Hamiltonian path of a graph G is a spanning path of G. A bipartite graph G with vertex sets $V_1$ and $V_2$ is defined to be Hamiltonian-laceable if such that $|V_1|=|V_2|$ and for every pair of vertices $p\in V_1$ and $q\in V_2$, there exists a Hamiltonian path in G with endpoints p and q, or $|V_1|=|V_2|+1$ and for every pair of vertices $p,q\in V_1,p\ne q$, there exists a Hamiltonian path in G with endpoints p and q. Let G be a bipartite graph with bipartition $(X,Y)$. Define $bn(G)$ to be a maximum integer such that $0\le bn(G)<min\{|X|,|Y|\}$ and (1) for each non-empty subset S of X, if $|S|\le |X|?bn(G)$, then $|N(S)|\ge |S|+bn(G)$, and if $|X|?bn(G)<|S|\le |X|$, then $N(S)=Y$; and (2) for each non-empty subset S of Y, if $|S|\le |Y|?bn(G)$, then $|N(S)|\ge |S|+bn(G)$, and if $|Y|?bn(G)<|S|\le |Y|$, then $N(S)=X$; and (3) $bn(G)=0$ if there is no non-negative integer satisfying (1) and (2).Let G be a bipartite graph with bipartition $(X,Y)$ such that $|X|=|Y|$ and $bn(G)>0$. In this paper, we show that if $\nu (G)\le 2\kappa (G)+4bn(G)?4$, then G is Hamiltonian-laceable; or if $\nu (G)>6bn(G)?2$, then for every pair of vertices $x\in X$ and $y\in Y$, there is an $(x,y)$-path P in G with $|V(P)|\ge 6bn(G)?2$. We show some of its corollaries in k-extendable, bipartite graphs and a conjecture in k-extendable graphs.     

Noncrossing Hamiltonian paths in geometric graphs

A geometric graph is a graph embedded in the plane in such a way that vertices correspond to points in general position and edges correspond to segments connecting the appropriate points. A noncrossing Hamiltonian path in a geometric graph is a Hamiltonian path which does not contain any intersecting pair of edges. In the paper, we study a problem asked by Micha Perles: determine the largest number h(n) such that when we remove any set of h(n) edges from any complete geometric graph on n vertices, the resulting graph still has a noncrossing Hamiltonian path. We prove that . We also establish several results related to special classes of geometric graphs. Let h₁(n) denote the largest number such that when we remove edges of an arbitrary complete subgraph of size at most h₁(n) from a complete geometric graph on n vertices the resulting graph still has a noncrossing Hamiltonian path. We prove that . Let h₂(n) denote the largest number such that when we remove an arbitrary star with at most h₂(n) edges from a complete geometric graph on n vertices the resulting graph still has a noncrossing Hamiltonian path. We show that h₂(n)=⌈n/2⌉-1. Further we prove that when we remove any matching from a complete geometric graph the resulting graph will have a noncrossing Hamiltonian path.     

Hamiltonian properties of triangular grid graphs

A triangular grid graph is a finite induced subgraph of the infinite graph associated with the two-dimensional triangular grid. In 2000, Reay and Zamfirescu showed that all 2-connected, linearly-convex triangular grid graphs (with the exception of one of them) are hamiltonian. The only exception is a graph D which is the linearly-convex hull of the Star of David. We extend this result to a wider class of locally connected triangular grid graphs. Namely, we prove that all connected, locally connected triangular grid graphs (with the same exception of graph D) are hamiltonian. Moreover, we present a sufficient condition for a connected graph to be fully cycle extendable. We also show that the problem Hamiltonian Cycle is NP-complete for triangular grid graphs.     

Hamiltonian properties of locally connected graphs with bounded vertex degree

We consider the existence of Hamiltonian cycles for the locally connected graphs with a bounded vertex degree. For a graph G, let Δ(G) and δ(G) denote the maximum and minimum vertex degrees, respectively. We explicitly describe all connected, locally connected graphs with Δ(G)?4. We show that every connected, locally connected graph with Δ(G)=5 and δ(G)?3 is fully cycle extendable which extends the results of Kikust [P.B. Kikust, The existence of the Hamiltonian circuit in a regular graph of degree 5, Latvian Math. Annual 16 (1975) 33-38] and Hendry [G.R.T. Hendry, A strengthening of Kikust’s theorem, J. Graph Theory 13 (1989) 257-260] on full cycle extendability of the connected, locally connected graphs with the maximum vertex degree bounded by 5. Furthermore, we prove that problem Hamilton Cycle for the locally connected graphs with Δ(G)?7 is NP-complete.     

The Hamiltonian index of graphs

The Hamiltonian index of a graph G is defined as

h(G)=min{m:L^m(G) is Hamiltonian}.     

On k-ordered Hamiltonian graphs

A Hamiltonian graph G of order n is k-ordered, 2 ≤ k ≤ n, if for every sequence v₁, v₂, …, v_k of k distinct vertices of G, there exists a Hamiltonian cycle that encounters v₁, v₂, …, v_k in this order. Define f(k, n) as the smallest integer m for which any graph on n vertices with minimum degree at least m is a k-ordered Hamiltonian graph. In this article, answering a question of Ng and Schultz, we determine f(k, n) if n is sufficiently large in terms of k. Let g(k, n) = − 1. More precisely, we show that f(k, n) = g(k, n) if n ≥ 11k − 3. Furthermore, we show that f(k, n) ≥ g(k, n) for any n ≥ 2k. Finally we show that f(k, n) > g(k, n) if 2k ≤ n ≤ 3k − 6. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 32: 17–25, 1999     

On Cayley graphs of rectangular groups

In this paper, we first give a characterization of Cayley graphs of rectangular groups. Then, vertex-transitivity of Cayley graphs of rectangular groups is considered. Further, it is shown that Cayley graphs Cay(S,C) which are automorphism-vertex-transitive, are in fact Cayley graphs of rectangular groups, if the subsemigroup generated by C is an orthodox semigroup. Finally, a characterization of vertex-transitive graphs which are Cayley graphs of finite semigroups is concluded.     

The connectivity of the block-intersection graphs of designs

It is shown that the vertex connectivity of the block-intersection graph of a balanced incomplete block design,BIBD (v, k, 1), is equal to its minimum degree. A similar statement is proved for the edge connectivity of the block-intersection graph of a pairwise balanced design,PBD (v, K, 1). A partial result on the vertex connectivity of these graphs is also given. Minimal vertex and edge cuts for the corresponding graphs are characterized.Research supported in part by a B.C. Science Council G.R.E.A.T. Scholarship.Research supported in part by an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship.     

Hamiltonian connected hourglass free line graphs

Thomassen [Reflections on graph theory, J. Graph Theory 10 (1986) 309-324] conjectured that every 4-connected line graph is hamiltonian. An hourglass is a graph isomorphic to K₅-E(C₄), where C₄ is a cycle of length 4 in K₅. In Broersma et al. [On factors of 4-connected claw-free graphs, J. Graph Theory 37 (2001) 125-136], it is shown that every 4-connected line graph without an induced subgraph isomorphic to the hourglass is hamiltonian connected. In this note, we prove that every 3-connected, essentially 4-connected hourglass free line graph, is hamiltonian connected.     

On the spanning connectivity of graphs

A k-containerC(u,v) of G between u and v is a set of k internally disjoint paths between u and v. A k-container C(u,v) of G is a k^*-container if it contains all vertices of G. A graph G is k^*-connected if there exists a k^*-container between any two distinct vertices. The spanning connectivity of G, κ^*(G), is defined to be the largest integer k such that G is w^*-connected for all 1?w?k if G is a 1^*-connected graph. In this paper, we prove that κ^*(G)?2δ(G)-n(G)+2 if (n(G)/2)+1?δ(G)?n(G)-2. Furthermore, we prove that κ^*(G-T)?2δ(G)-n(G)+2-|T| if T is a vertex subset with |T|?2δ(G)-n(G)-1.     

On certain Hamiltonian cycles in planar graphs

The problem is considered under which conditions a 4-connected planar or projective planar graph has a Hamiltonian cycle containing certain prescribed edges and missing certain forbidden edges. The results are applied to obtain novel lower bounds on the number of distinct Hamiltonian cycles that must be present in a 5-connected graph that is embedded into the plane or into the projective plane with face-width at least five. Especially, we show that every 5-connected plane or projective plane triangulation on n vertices with no non-contractible cyles of length less than five contains at least distinct Hamiltonian cycles. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 32: 81–96, 1999     

Line graphs of bipartite graphs with Hamiltonian paths

It is shown that, if t is an integer ≥3 and not equal to 7 or 8, then there is a unique maximal graph having the path P_t as a star complement for the eigenvalue ?2. The maximal graph is the line graph of K_m,m if t = 2m?1, and of K_m,m+1 if t = 2m. This result yields a characterization of L(G ) when G is a (t + 1)‐vertex bipartite graph with a Hamiltonian path. The graphs with star complement P_r ∪ P_s or P_r ∪ C_s for ?2 are also determined. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 43: 137–149, 2003     

Asymptotic connectivity of infinite graphs

We introduce the notion of the asymptotic connectivity of a graph by generalizing to infinite graphs average connectivity as defined by Beineke, Oellermann, and Pippert. Combinatorial and geometric properties of asymptotic connectivity are then explored. In particular, we compute the asymptotic connectivity of a number of planar graphs in order to determine the extent to which this measure correlates with the large-scale geometry of the graph.     

Essential edge connectivity of line graphs

Let $G$ be a graph and $L\left(G\right)$ be its line graph. In 1969, Chartrand and Stewart proved that ${\kappa }^{\prime }\left(L\left(G\right)\right)\ge 2{\kappa }^{\prime }\left(G\right)?2$, where ${\kappa }^{\prime }\left(G\right)$ and ${\kappa }^{\prime }\left(L\left(G\right)\right)$ denote the edge connectivity of $G$ and $L\left(G\right)$ respectively. We show a similar relationship holds for the essential edge connectivity of $G$ and $L\left(G\right)$, written ${\kappa }_e^{\prime }\left(G\right)$ and ${\kappa }_e^{\prime }\left(L\left(G\right)\right)$, respectively. In this note, it is proved that if $L\left(G\right)$ is not a complete graph and $G$ does not have a vertex of degree two, then ${\kappa }_e^{\prime }\left(L\left(G\right)\right)\ge 2{\kappa }_e^{\prime }\left(G\right)?2$. An immediate corollary is that $\kappa \left(L^2\left(G\right)\right)\ge 2\kappa \left(L\left(G\right)\right)?2$ for such graphs $G$, where the vertex connectivity of the line graph $L\left(G\right)$ and the second iterated line graph $L^2\left(G\right)$ are written as $\kappa \left(L\left(G\right)\right)$ and $\kappa \left(L^2\left(G\right)\right)$ respectively.     

Extremal graphs in connectivity augmentation

Let A(n, k, t) denote the smallest integer e for which every k‐connected graph on n vertices can be made (k + t)‐connected by adding e new edges. We determine A(n, k, t) for all values of n, k, and t in the case of (directed and undirected) edge‐connectivity and also for directed vertex‐connectivity. For undirected vertex‐connectivity we determine A(n, k, 1) for all values of n and k. We also describe the graphs that attain the extremal values. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 31: 179–193, 1999     

The smallest values of algebraic connectivity for unicyclic graphs

The algebraic connectivity of G is the second smallest eigenvalue of its Laplacian matrix. Let U_n be the set of all unicyclic graphs of order n. In this paper, we will provide the ordering of unicyclic graphs in U_n up to the last seven graphs according to their algebraic connectivities when n≥13. This extends the results of Liu and Liu [Y. Liu, Y. Liu, The ordering of unicyclic graphs with the smallest algebraic connectivity, Discrete Math. 309 (2009) 4315-4325] and Guo [J.-M. Guo, A conjecture on the algebraic connectivity of connected graphs with fixed girth, Discrete Math. 308 (2008) 5702-5711].