A remark on covering graphs

Every graph G may be transformed into a covering graph either by deletion of edges or by subdivision. Let _E (G) and _V (G) denote corresponding minimal numbers. We prove _E (G) = _V (G) for every graph G.     

Fixed points of posets and clique graphs

The fixed point property for partial orders has been the object of much attention in the past twenty years. Recently, M. Roddy ([7]) proved this famous conjecture of Rival (see [6]): the class of finite orders with the fixed point property is closed under finite products.In this article, we prove that a finite order has the fixed point property if the sequence of iterated clique graphs of its comparability graph tends to the trivial graph.     

Random orders

Letk andn be positive integers and fix a setS of cardinalityn; letP _k (n) be the (partial) order onS given by the intersection ofk randomly and independently chosen linear orders onS. We begin study of the basic parameters ofP _k (n) (e.g., height, width, number of extremal elements) for fixedk and largen. Our object is to illustrate some techniques for dealing with these random orders and to lay the groundwork for future research, hoping that they will be found to have useful properties not obtainable by known constructions.Supported by NSF grant MCS 84-02054.     

Random orders of dimension 2

A relationship is established between (partially) ordered sets of dimension 2 chosen randomly on a labelled set, chosen randomly by isomorphism type, or generated by pairs of random linear orderings. As a consequence we are able to determine the limiting probability (in each of the above sample spaces) that a two-dimensional order is rigid, is uniquely realizable, or has uniquely orientable comparability graph; all these probabilities lie strictly between 0 and 1. Finally, we show that the number of 2-dimensional (partial) orderings of a labelled n-element set is .On leave from Emory University, Atlanta, GA. Research at Emory supported by ONR grant N00014 85-K-0769.     

Quotients of peck posets

An elementary, self-contained proof of a result of Pouzet and Rosenberg and of Harper is given. This result states that the quotient of certain posets (called unitary Peck) by a finite group of automorphisms retains some nice properties, including the Sperner property. Examples of unitary Peck posets are given, and the techniques developed here are used to prove a result of Lovász on the edge-reconstruction conjecture.Supported in part by a National Science Foundation research grant.     

Two combinatorial problems on posets

Bialostocki proposed the following problem: Let nk2 be integers such that k|n. Let p(n, k) denote the least positive integer having the property that for every poset P, |P|p(n, k) and every Z _k -coloring f: P Z _k there exists either a chain or an antichain A, |A|=n and _aA f(a) 0 (modk). Estimate p(n, k). We prove that there exists a constant c(k), depends only on k, such that (n+k–2)²–c(k) p(n, k) (n+k–2)²+1. Another problem considered here is a 2-dimensional form of the monotone sequence theorem of Erdös and Szekeres. We prove that there exists a least positive integer f(n) such that every integral square matrix A of order f(n) contains a square submatrix B of order n, with all rows monotone sequences in the same direction and all columns monotone sequences in the same direction (direction means increasing or decreasing).     

Interval stability and interval covering property in finite posets

Given a finite ranked posetP, let (P) be the maximum size of a subset ofP such that no two elements of it belong simultaneously to some interval ofP and let (P) be the minimum number of intervals covering all elements ofP. We say thatP has the strong interval stability property (resp. the strong interval covering property) if for each subposetP induced by consecutive levels ofP, i.e.,P=P _(l)...P _(u), one has (P)=max{|P _(l)|, |P _(u)|} (resp. (P)=max{|P _(l)|, |P _(u)|}).We prove these properties for several classes of posets and discuss some general facts concerning the numbers (P) and (P), e.g., NP-completeness and min-max relations.     

New results from an algorithm for counting posets

In this paper we report on the success of a new technique for computing the number of unlabeled partial orders on n elements based on the partial order of partial orders ordered by containment. In addition to the number of partial orders, we obtain complete enumerations of the number of partial orders on n elements with r relations for n<-11, where r takes on all possible values. We point out some interesting sequences that arise in these tables.Supported by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Grant No. OGP8053.     

Automorphism groups of comparability and covering graphs

Let G be a group and H a subgroup of G. It is shown that there exists a partially ordered set (X, ) such that G is isomorphic to the group of all automorphisms of the comparability graph of (X, ) and such that under this isomorphism H is mapped onto the group of all order-automorphisms of (X, ). There also exists a partially ordered set (Y, ) such that G is isomorphic to the group of all automorphisms of the covering graph of (Y, ) and such that under this isomorphism H is mapped onto the group of all order-automorphisms of (Y, ). In this representation X and Y can be taken to be finite if G is finite and of the same cardinality as G if G is infinite.     

Random graph orders

Let P _n be the order determined by taking a random graph G on {1, 2,..., n}, directing the edges from the lesser vertex to the greater (as integers), and then taking the transitive closure of this relation. We call such and ordered set a random graph order. We show that there exist constants c, and °, such that the expected height and set up number of P _n are sharply concentrated around cn and °n respectively. We obtain the estimates: .565<c<.610, and .034<°<.289. We also discuss the width, dimension, and first-order properties of P _n.     

Planar acyclic oriented graphs

A plane Hasse representation of an acyclic oriented graph is a drawing of the graph in the Euclidean plane such that all arcs are straight-line segments directed upwards and such that no two arcs cross. We characterize completely those oriented graphs which have a plane Hasse representation such that all faces are bounded by convex polygons. From this we derive the Hasse representation analogue, due to Kelly and Rival of Fary's theorem on straight-line representations of planar graphs and the Kuratowski type theorem of Platt for acyclic oriented graphs with only one source and one sink. Finally, we describe completely those acyclic oriented graphs which have a vertex dominating all other vertices and which have no plane Hasse representation, a problem posed by Trotter.     

First order properties of random posets

Let =(n,p) be a binary relation on the set [n]={1, 2, ..., n} such that (i,i) for every i and (i,j) with probability p, independently for each pair i,j [n], where i<j. Define as the transitive closure of and denote poset ([n], ) by R(n, p). We show that for any constant p probability of each first order property of R(n, p) converges as n .     

Representing posets with k-tournaments

In this paper, we introduce a binary relation on the vertex set of a k-tournament, and using this relation show that every finite poset with cardinality n4 can be represented by a k-tournament for every k satisfying 3kn–1.     

Substitution and atomic extension on greedy posets

In this paper, we study the operations of substitution and atomic extension on greedy posets. For the substitution operation, if P=(P ₁ , x, P ₂ )is a greedy poset, then P ₁ and P ₂ are greedy posets, the converse being false. However, for the atomic extension, P=P ₁ (x, P ₂ )is a greedy poset if and only if P ₁ and P ₂ are greedy posets. We prove also that the class of greedy semi-partitive lattices is the smallest one containing M _n (n2), B ₃ and closed by atomic extension. The class C _n of greedy posets with jump number n is infinite. However, we show that C _n can be obtained, in a very simple way, from a subclass D _n of finite cardinal ity. We construct D _n for n=1, 2.     

Random walks and local cuts in graphs

For a specified subset S of vertices in a graph G we consider local cuts that separate a subset of S. We consider the local Cheeger constant which is the minimum Cheeger ratio over all subsets of S, and we examine the relationship between the local Cheeger constant and the Dirichlet eigenvalue of the induced subgraph on S. These relationships are summarized in a local Cheeger inequality. The proofs are based on the methods of establishing isoperimetric inequalities using random walks and the spectral methods for eigenvalues with Dirichlet boundary conditions.     

Finite axiomatizations for existentially closed posets and semilattices

In this paper we exhibit axiomatizations for the theories of existentially closed posets and existentially closed semilattices. We do this by considering an infinite axiomatization which characterizes these structures in terms of embeddings of finite substructures, an axiomatization which exists for any locally finite universal class with a finite language and with the joint embedding and amalgamation properties. We then find particular finite subsets of these axioms which suffice to axiomatize both classes. Research supported by an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship. Research supported by NSERC Grant No. A7256.     

Upper bound multigraphs for posets

The study of upper bound graphs of posets can be extended naturally to multigraphs. This paper characterizes such upper bound multigraphs, shows they determine the associated posets up to isomorphism, and extends results of D. Scott to characterize posets having chordal or interval upper bound multigraphs.Research partially supported by Office of Naval Research contract N00014-88-K-0163.     

Planar graphs and poset dimension

We view the incidence relation of a graph G=(V. E) as an order relation on its vertices and edges, i.e. a<_G b if and only of a is a vertex and b is an edge incident on a. This leads to the definition of the order-dimension of G as the minimum number of total orders on V E whose intersection is <_G. Our main result is the characterization of planar graphs as the graphs whose order-dimension does not exceed three. Strong versions of several known properties of planar graphs are implied by this characterization. These properties include: each planar graph has arboricity at most three and each planar graph has a plane embedding whose edges are straight line segments. A nice feature of this embedding is that the coordinates of the vertices have a purely combinatorial meaning.     

A bruhat order for bipartite graphs whose node sets are posets: Lifting,switching, and adding edges

Consider two partially ordered setsP, Q and a number of edges connecting some of the points ofP with some of the points ofQ. This yields a bipartite graph. Some pairs of the edges may cross each other because their endpoints atP andQ are oppositely ordered. A natural decrossing operation is to exchange the endpoints of these edges incident atQ, say. This is called a switch. A left lift of an edge means to replace its starting point atP by a larger starting point. A right lift is defined symmetrically for the endpoints atQ. The operation of adding an edge cannot, informally, be explained better. Assume we are given two bipartite graphs , on the node setPQ. We show that for certain pairs (P, Q) of finite posets, a neat necessary and sufficient criterion can be given in order that is obtainable from by the sequence of elementary operations just defined. A recent characterization of the Bruhat order of the symmetric group follows as a special case.     

Random k-dimensional orders: Width and number of linear extensions

We consider the width W _k (n) and number L _k (n) of linear extensions of a random k-dimensional order P _k (n). We show that, for each fixed k, almost surely W _k (n) lies between (k/2–C)n _1–1/k and 4kn ^1-1/k , for some constant C, and L _k (n) lies between (e ^-2 n ^1-1/k ) ⁿ and (2kn ^1-1/k ) ⁿ . The bounds given also apply to the expectations of the corresponding random variables. We also show that W _k (n) and log L _k (n) are sharply concentrated about their means.