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.     

Characterization of graphs with infinite cyclic edge connectivity

In this paper, we characterize the graphs with infinite cyclic edge connectivity. Then we design an efficient algorithm to determine whether a graph has finite cyclic edge connectivity or infinite cyclic edge connectivity.     

On the connectivity of diamond-free graphs

Let G be a graph of order n(G), minimum degree δ(G) and connectivity κ(G). Chartrand and Harary [Graphs with prescribed connectivities, in: P. Erdös, G. Katona (Eds.), Theory of Graphs, Academic Press, New York, 1968, pp. 61-63] gave the following lower bound on the connectivity

κ(G)?2δ(G)+2-n(G).     

On the connectivity of cayley graphs

It has been shown by M. E. Watkins that the connectivity of edge transitive finite graphs is greatest possible. The main Theorem of this paper weakens the condition of edge transitivity and is used to show that the connectivity of the graph of the assignment polytope is equal to its degree, thereby proving a conjecture of Balinski and Russakoff.     

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 the structure of infinite vertex-transitive graphs

A characterization of all vertex-transitive graphs Γ of connectivity l is given in terms of the lobe structure of Γ. Among these, all graphs are determined whose automorphism groups act primitively (respectively, regularly) on the vertex set.     

On the Hadwiger number of infinite graphs

LetX be a connected graph with bounded valency and at least one thick end. We show that the existence of certain subgroups of the automorphism group ofX always implies thatX has infinite Hadwiger number.     

On the connectivity of unit distance graphs

For a number fieldK , consider the graphG(K^d), whose vertices are elements ofK ^d, with an edge between any two points at (Euclidean) distance 1. We show thatG(K²) is not connected whileG(K^d) is connected ford 5. We also give necessary and sufficient conditions for the connectedness ofG(K³) andG(K⁴).     

On the connectivity of bipartite distance-balanced graphs

A connected graph Γ is said to be distance-balanced whenever for any pair of adjacent vertices u,v of Γ the number of vertices closer to u than to v is equal to the number of vertices closer to v than to u. In [K. Handa, Bipartite graphs with balanced (a,b)-partitions, Ars Combin.51 (1999), 113-119] Handa asked whether every bipartite distance-balanced graph, that is not a cycle, is 3-connected. In this paper the Handa question is answered in the negative. Moreover, we show that a minimal bipartite distance-balanced graph, that is not a cycle and is not 3-connected, has 18 vertices and is unique. In addition, we give a complete classification of non-3-connected bipartite distance-balanced graphs for which the minimal distance between two vertices in a 2-cut is three. All such graphs are regular and for each k≥3 there exists an infinite family of such graphs which are k-regular.Furthermore, we determine a number of structural properties that a bipartite distance-balanced graph, which is not 3-connected, must have. As an application, we give a positive answer to the Handa question for the subfamily of bipartite strongly distance-balanced graphs.     

On the connectivity of maximal planar graphs

Let d₁ ? d₂ ? … ? d_p be the vertex degrees of a maximal planar graph G. Etourneau has shown that if d₁ ? 6 and d_p = 5, then G is 5-connected. We generalize Etourneau's result by giving sufficient conditions in terms of the vertex degrees for G to be d_p -connected.     

On disjoint configurations in infinite graphs

For a graph A and a positive integer n, let nA denote the union of n disjoint copies of A; similarly, the union of ?₀ disjoint copies of A is referred to as ?₀A. It is shown that there exist (connected) graphs A and G such that nA is a minor of G for all n??, but ?₀A is not a minor of G. This supplements previous examples showing that analogous statements are true if, instead of minors, isomorphic embeddings or topological minors are considered. The construction of A and G is based on the fact that there exist (infinite) graphs G₁, G₂,… such that G_i is not a minor of G_j for all i ≠ j. In contrast to previous examples concerning isomorphic embeddings and topological minors, the graphs A and G presented here are not locally finite. The following conjecture is suggested: for each locally finite connected graph A and each graph G, if nA is a minor of G for all n ? ?, then ?₀A is a minor of G, too. If true, this would be a far‐reaching generalization of a classical result of R. Halin on families of disjoint one‐way infinite paths in graphs. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 39: 222–229, 2002; DOI 10.1002/jgt.10016     

On the connectivities of finite and infinite graphs

Results byW. Mader and the authors on the connectivity of finite graphs are generalized to include infinite graphs. In the infinite case a distinction must be made concerning the distribution of finite and infinite components with respect to the separating sets. Results are obtained relating these components to the atoms.     

On the Hamilton connectivity of generalized Petersen graphs

We investigate the Hamilton connectivity and Hamilton laceability of generalized Petersen graphs whose internal edges have jump 1, 2 or 3.     

On the connectivity of randomm-orientable graphs and digraphs

We consider graphs and digraphs obtained by randomly generating a prescribed number of arcs incident at each vertex. We analyse their almost certain connectivity and apply these results to the expected value of random minimum length spanning trees and arborescences. We also examine the relationship between our results and certain results of Erdős and Rényi.     

On the maximal eccentric connectivity indices of graphs

For a connected simple graph G, the eccentricity ec(v) of a vertex v in G is the distance from v to a vertex farthest from v, and d(v) denotes the degree of a vertex v. The eccentric connectivity index of G, denoted by ξc(G), is defined as v∈V(G)d(v)ec(v). In this paper, we will determine the graphs with maximal eccentric connectivity index among the connected graphs with n vertices and m edges(n ≤ m ≤ n + 4), and propose a conjecture on the graphs with maximal eccentric connectivity index among the connected graphs with n vertices and m edges(m ≥ n + 5).     

On Hamilton decompositions of infinite circulant graphs

The natural infinite analog of a (finite) Hamilton cycle is a two‐way‐infinite Hamilton path (connected spanning 2‐valent subgraph). Although it is known that every connected 2k‐valent infinite circulant graph has a two‐way‐infinite Hamilton path, there exist many such graphs that do not have a decomposition into k edge‐disjoint two‐way‐infinite Hamilton paths. This contrasts with the finite case where it is conjectured that every 2k‐valent connected circulant graph has a decomposition into k edge‐disjoint Hamilton cycles. We settle the problem of decomposing 2k‐valent infinite circulant graphs into k edge‐disjoint two‐way‐infinite Hamilton paths for , in many cases when , and in many other cases including where the connection set is or .     

On vertex k-partitions of certain infinite graphs

Let G be an infinite graph; define deg∞ G to be the least m such that any partition P of the vertex set of G into sets of uniformly bounded cardinality contains a set which is adjacent to at least m other sets of the partition. If G is either a regular tree on a triangular, square or hexagonal planar mosaic graph, it is shown that deg∞ G equals the degree of G. This verifies some conjectures of S. Ulam. Several open problems are given.