The asymptotic numbers of regular tournaments,Eulerian digraphs and Eulerian oriented graphs

LetRT(n), ED(n) andEOG(n) be the number of labelled regular tournaments, labelled loop-free simple Eulerian digraphs, and labelled Eulerian oriented simple graphs, respectively, onn vertices. Then, asn,, for any>0. The last two families of graphs are also enumerated by their numbers of edges. The proofs use the saddle point method applied to appropriaten-dimensional integrals.     

The tree number of a graph with a given girth

A family of subtrees of a graphG whose edge sets form a partition of the edge set ofG is called atree decomposition ofG. The minimum number of trees in a tree decomposition ofG is called thetree number ofG and is denoted by(G). It is known that ifG is connected then(G) |G|/2. In this paper we show that ifG is connected and has girthg 5 then(G) |G|/g + 1. Surprisingly, the case wheng = 4 seems to be more difficult. We conjecture that in this case(G) |G|/4 + 1 and show a wide class of graphs that satisfy it. Also, some special graphs like complete bipartite graphs andn-dimensional cubes, for which we determine their tree numbers, satisfy it. In the general case we prove the weaker inequality(G) (|G| – 1)/3 + 1.     

Regressions and monotone chains II: The poset of integer intervals

A regressive function (also called a regression or contractive mapping) on a partial order P is a function mapping P to itself such that (x)x. A monotone k-chain for is a k-chain on which is order-preserving; i.e., a chain x ₁<...ksuch that (x ₁)...(x_k). Let P _nbe the poset of integer intervals {i, i+1, ..., m} contained in {1, 2, ..., n}, ordered by inclusion. Let f(k) be the least value of n such that every regression on P _nhas a monotone k+1-chain, let t(x,j) be defined by t(x, 0)=1 and t(x,j)=x ^t(x,j–1). Then f(k) exists for all k (originally proved by D. White), and t(2,k) < f(K) <t( + _k, k) , where _k 0 as k. Alternatively, the largest k such that every regression on P _nis guaranteed to have a monotone k-chain lies between lg^*(n) and lg^*(n)–2, inclusive, where lg^*(n) is the number of appliations of logarithm base 2 required to reduce n to a negative number. Analogous results hold for choice functions, which are regressions in which every element is mapped to a minimal element.     

Local structure of graphs with λ=μ=2,a 2=4

Several properties of graphs with ==2,a ₂=4 are studied. It is proved that such graphs are locally unions of triangles, hexagons or heptagons. As a consequence, a distance regular graph with intersection array (13,10,7;1,2,7) does not exist.     

On graphs that can be oriented as diagrams of ordered sets

We study some equivalent and necessary conditions for a finite graph to be the covering graph of a (partially) ordered set. For each 1, M. Aigner and G. Prins have introduced a notion of a vertex colouring, here called -good colouring, such that a 1-good colouring is the usual concept and graphs that have a 2-good colouring are precisely covering graphs. We present some inequalities for the corresponding chromatic numbers , especially for x ₂. There exist graphs that satisfy these inequalities for =2 but are not covering graphs. We show also that x ₂ cannot be bounded by a function of x=x ₁. A construction of Neetil and Rödl is used to show that x ₂ is not bounded by a function of the girth.     

Randomized graph products, chromatic numbers, and the Lovász ϑ-function

For a graphG, let (G) denote the size of the largest independent set inG, and let (G) denote the Lovász -function onG. We prove that for somec>0, there exists an infinite family of graphs such that \alpha (G)n/2^{c\sqrt {\log n} }$$ " align="middle" border="0"> , wheren denotes the number of vertices in a graph. this disproves a known conjecture regarding the function.As part of our proof, we analyse the behavior of the chromatic number in graphs under a randomized version of graph products. This analysis extends earlier work of Linial and Vazirani, and of Berman and Schnitger, and may be of independent interest.Incumbent of the Joseph and Celia Reskin Career Development Chair. Yigal Alon Fellow     

Infinite highly arc transitive digraphs and universal covering digraphs

A digraph (that is a directed graph) is said to be highly arc transitive if its automorphism group is transitive on the set ofs-arcs for eachs0. Several new constructions are given of infinite highly arc transitive digraphs. In particular, for a connected, 1-arc transitive, bipartite digraph, a highly arc transitive digraphDL() is constructed and is shown to be a covering digraph for every digraph in a certain classD() of connected digraphs. Moreover, if is locally finite, thenDL() is a universal covering digraph forD(). Further constructions of infinite highly arc transitive digraphs are given.The second author wishes to acknowledge the hospitality of the Mathematical Institute of the University of Oxford, and the University of Auckland, during the period when the research for this paper was doneResearch supported by the Australian Research Council     

Large faces in 4-critical planar graphs with minimum degree 4

We prove that the size of the largest face of a 4-critical planar graph with 4 is at most one half the number of its vertices. Letf(n) denote the maximum of the sizes of largest faces of all such graphs withn vertices (n sufficiently large). We present an infinite family of graphs that shows .All three authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada.     

On the stochastic independence properties of hard-core distributions

A probability measurep on the set of matchings in a graph (or, more generally 2-bounded hypergraph) ishard-core if for some : [0,), the probabilityp(M) ofM is proportional to . We show that such distributions enjoy substantial approximate stochastic independence properties. This is based on showing that, withM chosen according to the hard-core distributionp, MP () the matching polytope of , and >0, if the vector ofmarginals, (Pr(AM):A an edge of ), is in (1–) MP (), then the weights (A) are bounded by someA(). This eventually implies, for example, that under the same assumption, with fixed, as the distance betweenA, B tends to infinity.Thought to be of independent interest, our results have already been applied in the resolutions of several questions involving asymptotic behaviour of graphs and hypergraphs (see [14, 16], [11]–[13]).Supported in part by NSFThis work forms part of the author's doctoral dissertation [16]; see also [17]. The author gratefully acknowledges NSERC for partial support in the form of a 1967 Science and Engineering Scholarship.     

The Colin de Verdière number and sphere representations of a graph

Colin de Vedière introduced an interesting linear algebraic invariant (G) of graphs. He proved that (G)2 if and only ifG is outerplanar, and (G)3 if and only ifG is planar. We prove that if the complement of a graphG onn nodes is outerplanar, then (G)n–4, and if it is planar, then (G)n–5. We give a full characterization of maximal planar graphs whose complementsG have (G)=n–5. In the opposite direction we show that ifG does not have twin nodes, then (G)n–3 implies that the complement ofG is outerplanar, and (G)n–4 implies that the complement ofG is planar.Our main tools are a geometric formulation of the invariant, and constructing representations of graphs by spheres, related to the classical result of Koebe about representing planar graphs by touching disks. In particular we show that such sphere representations characterize outerplanar and planar graphs.     

On an isomorphism problem on the closed-set lattice of a graph

Let (G) and V(G) be, respectively, the closed-set lattice and the vertex set of a graph G. Any lattice isomorphism : V(G)(G) induces a bijection : V(G)V(G) such that for each x in V(G), (x)=x' in V(G') iff ({x})={x'}. A graph G is strongly sensitive if for any graph G' and any lattice isomorphism : (G)(G), the bijection induced by is a graph isomorphism of G onto G'. In this paper we present some sufficient conditions for graphs to be strongly sensitive and prove in particular that all C ₄-free graphs and all covering graphs of finite lattices are strongly sensitive.     

Ramsey families which exclude a graph

For graphsA andB the relationA(B) _r ¹ means that for everyr-coloring of the vertices ofA there is a monochromatic copy ofB inA. Forb (G) is the family of graphs which do not embedG. A familyof graphs is Ramsey if for all graphsBthere is a graphAsuch thatA(B) _r ¹ . The only graphsG for which it is not known whether Forb (G) is Ramsey are graphs which have a cutpoint adjacent to every other vertex except one. In this paper we prove for a large subclass of those graphsG, that Forb (G) does not have the Ramsey property.This research has been supported in part by NSERC grant 69-1325.     

Sur un problème de Rényi

Let (n) be the number of all prime divisors ofn and (n) the number of distinct prime divisors ofn. We definev _q (x)=|{nx(n)–(n)=q}|. In this paper, we give an asymptotic development ofv _q (x); this improves on previous results.

     

On the number of limit cycles in perturbations of a two dimensional nonlinear differential system

Summary For the nonlinear system , which has a family { _h } of closed orbits, we consider perturbations of the type , whereP andQ are arbitrary polynomials. The abelian integralsA(h) corresponding to this family { _h } are investigated. By deriving differential equations forA(h) and proving monotonicity for quotients of abelian integrals, we obtain results on the number of zeros of abelian integrals and, hence, on the number of closed orbits _h which persist as limit cycles of the perturbed system (^*). In particular, a uniqueness theorem for limit cycles of (^*) with quadratic polynomialsP, Q is proved. Moreover, whenP, Q are of arbitrary degree, a lower bound for the possible number of limit cycles of (^*) is derived.     

Weakly union-free maximum packings

Frankl and Füredi [11] established that the largest number of 3-subsets of ann-set, for which no four distinct setsA,B,D satisfyAB=CD, is at most . Chee, Colbourn, and Ling [6] established that this upper bound is met with few exceptions whenn0, 1 (mod 3). In this paper, it is established that the upper bound is also met with few exceptions whenn2 (mod 3).The research was supported in part by the US Army Research Office under Grant DAAG55-98-1-0272.     

∑II∑ threshold formulas

A II formula has the form, where eachL is either a variable or a negated variable. In this paper we study the computation of threshold functions by II formulas. By combining the proof of the Fredman-Komlós bound [5, 10] and a counting argument, we show that fork andn large andkn/2, every II formula computing the threshold functionT _k ⁿ has size at least exp . Fork andn large andkn ^2/3, we show that there exist II formulas for computingT _k ⁿ with size at most exp .     

A functional inequality for real-analytic functions

Summary Forf ( C ⁿ() and 0 t x letJ _n (f, t, x) = (–1)ⁿ f(–x)f ⁽ⁿ⁾(t) +f(x)f ⁽ⁿ⁾ (–t). We prove that the only real-analytic functions satisfyingJ _n (f, t, x) 0 for alln = 0, 1, 2, are the exponential functionsf(x) = c e ^x,c, . Further we present a nontrivial class of real-analytic functions satisfying the inequalitiesJ ₀ (f, x, x) 0 and ₀ ^x (x – t)^{n – 1}J_n(f, t, x)dt 0 (n 1).     

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 .     

The random-cluster model on the complete graph

Summary The random-cluster model of Fortuin and Kasteleyn contains as special cases the percolation, Ising, and Potts models of statistical physics. When the underlying graph is the complete graph onn vertices, then the associated processes are called mean-field. In this study of the mean-field random-cluster model with parametersp=/n andq, we show that its properties for any value ofq(0, ) may be derived from those of an Erds-Rényi random graph. In this way we calculate the critical point _c (q) of the model, and show that the associated phase transition is continuous if and only ifq2. Exact formulae are given for _C (q), the density of the largest component, the density of edges of the model, and the free energy. This work generalizes earlier results valid for the Potts model, whereq is an integer satisfyingq2. Equivalent results are obtained for a fixed edge-number random-cluster model. As a consequence of the results of this paper, one obtains large-deviation theorems for the number of components in the classical random-graph models (whereq=1).     

Some extremal results on circles containing points

We define (n) to be the largest number such that for every setP ofn points in the plane, there exist two pointsx, y P, where every circle containingx andy contains (n) points ofP. We establish lower and upper bounds for (n) and show that [n/27]+2(n)[n/4]+1. We define for the special case where then points are restricted to be the vertices of a convex polygon. We show that .