Homomorphisms of 2-edge-colored graphs

In this paper, we study homomorphisms of 2-edge-colored graphs, that is graphs with edges colored with two colors. We consider various graph classes (outerplanar graphs, partial 2-trees, partial 3-trees, planar graphs) and the problem is to find, for each class, the smallest number of vertices of a 2-edge-colored graph H such that each graph of the considered class admits a homomorphism to H.     

Chromatic number of sparse colored mixed planar graphs

A colored mixed graph has vertices linked by both colored arcs and colored edges. The chromatic number of such a graph G is defined as the smallest order of a colored mixed graph H such that there exists a (arc-color preserving) homomorphism from G to H. We study in this paper the colored mixed chromatic number of planar graphs, partial 2-trees and outerplanar graphs with given girth.     

Partitioning 2-edge-colored graphs by monochromatic paths and cycles

We present results on partitioning the vertices of 2-edge-colored graphs into monochromatic paths and cycles. We prove asymptotically the two-color case of a conjecture of Sárközy: the vertex set of every 2-edge-colored graph can be partitioned into at most 2α(G) monochromatic cycles, where α(G) denotes the independence number of G. Another direction, emerged recently from a conjecture of Schelp, is to consider colorings of graphs with given minimum degree. We prove that apart from o(|V (G)|) vertices, the vertex set of any 2-edge-colored graph G with minimum degree at least \(\tfrac{{(1 + \varepsilon )3|V(G)|}} {4}\) can be covered by the vertices of two vertex disjoint monochromatic cycles of distinct colors. Finally, under the assumption that \(\bar G\) does not contain a fixed bipartite graph H, we show that in every 2-edge-coloring of G, |V (G)| ? c(H) vertices can be covered by two vertex disjoint paths of different colors, where c(H) is a constant depending only on H. In particular, we prove that c(C ₄)=1, which is best possible.     

The graphs for which the maximum multiplicity of an eigenvalue is two

Characterized are all simple undirected graphs G such that any real symmetric matrix that has graph G has no eigenvalues of multiplicity more than 2. All such graphs are partial 2-trees (and this follows from a result for rather general fields), but only certain partial 2-trees guarantee maximum multiplicity 2. Among partial linear 2-trees, they are only those whose vertices can be covered by two ‘parallel’ induced paths. The remaining graphs that guarantee maximum multiplicity 2 are composed of certain identified families of ‘exceptional’ partial 2-trees that are not linear.     

Segment representation of a subclass of co-planar graphs

A graph is a segment graph if its vertices can be mapped to line segments in the plane such that two vertices are adjacent if and only if their corresponding line segments intersect. Kratochvíl and Kuběna asked the question of whether the complements of planar graphs, called co-planar graphs, are segment graphs. We show here that the complements of all partial 2-trees are segment graphs.     

Diagram groups are totally orderable

In this paper, we introduce the concept of the independence graph of a directed 2-complex. We show that the class of diagram groups is closed under graph products over independence graphs of rooted 2-trees. This allows us to show that a diagram group containing all countable diagram groups is a semi-direct product of a partially commutative group and R. Thompson's group F. As a result, we prove that all diagram groups are totally orderable.     

Path factors and parallel knock-out schemes of almost claw-free graphs

An H₁,{H₂}-factor of a graph G is a spanning subgraph of G with exactly one component isomorphic to the graph H₁ and all other components (if there are any) isomorphic to the graph H₂. We completely characterise the class of connected almost claw-free graphs that have a P₇,{P₂}-factor, where P₇ and P₂ denote the paths on seven and two vertices, respectively. We apply this result to parallel knock-out schemes for almost claw-free graphs. These schemes proceed in rounds in each of which each surviving vertex eliminates one of its surviving neighbours. A graph is reducible if such a scheme eliminates every vertex in the graph. Using our characterisation, we are able to classify all reducible almost claw-free graphs, and we can show that every reducible almost claw-free graph is reducible in at most two rounds. This leads to a quadratic time algorithm for determining if an almost claw-free graph is reducible (which is a generalisation and improvement upon the previous strongest result that showed that there was a O(n^5.376) time algorithm for claw-free graphs on n vertices).     

Tools for Multicoloring with Applications to Planar Graphs and Partial k-Trees

We study graph multicoloring problems, motivated by the scheduling of dependent jobs on multiple machines. In multicoloring problems, vertices have lengths which determine the number of colors they must receive, and the desired coloring can be either contiguous (nonpreemptive schedule) or arbitrary (preemptive schedule). We consider both the sum-of-completion times measure, or the sum of the last color assigned to each vertex, as well as the more common makespan measure, or the number of colors used. In this paper, we study two fundamental classes of graphs: planar graphs and partial k-trees. For both classes, we give a polynomial time approximation scheme (PTAS) for the multicoloring sum, for both the preemptive and nonpreemptive cases. On the other hand, we show the problem to be strongly NP-hard on planar graphs, even in the unweighted case, known as the sum coloring problem. For a nonpreemptive multicoloring sum of partial k-trees, we obtain a fully polynomial time approximation scheme. This is based on a pseudo-polynomial time algorithm that holds for a general class of cost functions. Finally, we give a PTAS for the makespan of a preemptive multicoloring of partial k-trees that uses only O(log n) preemptions. These results are based on several properties of multicolorings and tools for manipulating them, which may be of more general applicability.     

Edge decompositions and rooted packings of graphs

Let H be a fixed graph. In this paper we consider the problem of edge decomposition of a graph into subgraphs isomorphic to H or $2K_2$ (a 2-edge matching). We give a partial classification of the problems of existence of such decomposition according to the computational complexity. More specifically, for some large class of graphs H we show that this problem is polynomial time solvable and for some other large class of graphs it is NP-complete. These results can be viewed as some edge decomposition analogs of a result by Loebl and Poljak who classified according to the computational complexity the problem of existence of a graph factor with components isomorphic to H or $K_2$. In the proofs of our results we apply so-called rooted packings into graphs which are mutual generalizations of both edge decompositions and factors of graphs.     

Lower bounds for the game colouring number of partial k-trees and planar graphs

This paper discusses the game colouring number of partial k-trees and planar graphs. Let col_g(PT_k) and col_g(P) denote the maximum game colouring number of partial k trees and the maximum game colouring number of planar graphs, respectively. In this paper, we prove that col_g(PT_k)=3k+2 and col_g(P)?11. We also prove that the game colouring number col_g(G) of a graph is a monotone parameter, i.e., if H is a subgraph of G, then col_g(H)?col_g(G).     

Subclasses of k-trees: Characterization and recognition

A k-tree is either a complete graph on k vertices or a graph G=(V,E) that contains a vertex whose neighbourhood in G induces a complete graph on k vertices and whose removal results in a k-tree. We present two new subclasses of k-trees and their properties. First, we present the definition and characterization of k-path graphs, based on the concept of k-paths, that generalizes the classic concept of paths. We also introduce the simple-clique k-trees, of which the maximal outerplanar graphs and the planar 3-trees are particular cases. Based on Characterization Theorems, we show recognition algorithms for both families. Finally, we establish the inclusion relations among these new classes and k-trees.     

Some perfect coloring properties of graphs

A Grundy n-coloring of a finite graph is a coloring of the points of the graph with the non-negative integers smaller than n such that each point is adjacent to some point of each smaller color but to none of the same color. The Grundy number of a graph is the maximum n for which it has a Grundy n-coloring. Characterizations are given of the families of finite graphs G such that for each induced subgraph H of G: (1) the Grundy number of H is equal to the chromatic number of H; (2) the Grundy number of H is equal to the maximum clique size of H; (3) the achromatic number of H is equal to the chromatic number of H; (4) the achromatic number of H is equal to the maximum clique size of H. The definitions are further extended to infinite graphs, and some of the above characterizations are shown to be true for denumerable graphs and locally finite graphs.     

Universal H-Colourable Graphs

Rado constructed a (simple) denumerable graph R with the positive integers as vertex set with the following edges: for given m and n with m < n, m is adjacent to n if n has a 1 in the mth position of its binary expansion. It is well known that R is a universal graph in the set ${\mathcal{I}_c}$ of all countable graphs (since every graph in ${\mathcal{I}_c}$ is isomorphic to an induced subgraph of R) and that it is a homogeneous graph (since every isomorphism between two finite induced subgraphs of R extends to an automorphism of R). In this paper we construct a graph U(H) which is H-universal in → H _c , the induced-hereditary hom-property of H-colourable graphs consisting of all (countable) graphs which have a homomorphism into a given (countable) graph H. If H is the (finite) complete graph K _k , then → H _c is the property of k-colourable graphs. The universal graph U(H) is characterised by showing that it is, up to isomorphism, the unique denumerable, H-universal graph in → H _c which is H-homogeneous in → H _c . The graphs H for which ${U(H) \cong R}$ are also characterised. With small changes to the definitions, our results translate effortlessly to hold for digraphs too. Another slight adaptation of our work yields related results for (k, l)-split graphs.     

Partial characterizations of clique-perfect and coordinated graphs: superclasses of triangle-free graphs

A graph is clique-perfect if the cardinality of a maximum clique-independent set equals the cardinality of a minimum clique-transversal, for all its induced subgraphs. A graph G is coordinated if the chromatic number of the clique graph of H equals the maximum number of cliques of H with a common vertex, for every induced subgraph H of G. Coordinated graphs are a subclass of perfect graphs. The complete lists of minimal forbidden induced subgraphs for the classes of cliqueperfect and coordinated graphs are not known, but some partial characterizations have been obtained. In this paper, we characterize clique-perfect and coordinated graphs by minimal forbidden induced subgraphs when the graph is either paw-free or {gem,W₄,bull}-free, two superclasses of triangle-free graphs.     

Unicyclic graphs with bicyclic inverses

A graph is nonsingular if its adjacency matrix A(G) is nonsingular. The inverse of a nonsingular graph G is a graph whose adjacency matrix is similar to A(G)^?1 via a particular type of similarity. Let H denote the class of connected bipartite graphs with unique perfect matchings. Tifenbach and Kirkland (2009) characterized the unicyclic graphs in H which possess unicyclic inverses. We present a characterization of unicyclic graphs in H which possess bicyclic inverses.     

Edge-transitive products

This paper concerns finite, edge-transitive direct and strong products, as well as infinite weak Cartesian products. We prove that the direct product of two connected, non-bipartite graphs is edge-transitive if and only if both factors are edge-transitive and at least one is arc-transitive, or one factor is edge-transitive and the other is a complete graph with loops at each vertex. Also, a strong product is edge-transitive if and only if all factors are complete graphs. In addition, a connected, infinite non-trivial Cartesian product graph G is edge-transitive if and only if it is vertex-transitive and if G is a finite weak Cartesian power of a connected, edge- and vertex-transitive graph H, or if G is the weak Cartesian power of a connected, bipartite, edge-transitive graph H that is not vertex-transitive.     

A characterization of partial directed line graphs

Can a directed graph be completed to a directed line graph? If possible, how many arcs must be added? In this paper we address the above questions characterizing partial directed line (PDL) graphs, i.e., partial subgraph of directed line graphs. We show that for such class of graphs a forbidden configuration criterion and a Krausz's like theorem are equivalent characterizations. Furthermore, the latter leads to a recognition algorithm that requires O(m) worst case time, where m is the number of arcs in the graph. Given a partial line digraph, our characterization allows us to find a minimum completion to a directed line graph within the same time bound.The class of PDL graphs properly contains the class of directed line graphs, characterized in [J. Blazewicz, A. Hertz, D. Kobler, D. de Werra, On some properties of DNA graphs, Discrete Appl. Math. 98(1-2) (1999) 1-19], hence our results generalize those already known for directed line graphs. In the undirected case, we show that finding a minimum line graph edge completion is NP-hard, while the problem of deciding whether or not an undirected graph is a partial graph of a simple line graph is trivial.     

On large light graphs in families of polyhedral graphs

A graph H is said to be light in a family H of graphs if each graph G∈H containing a subgraph isomorphic to H contains also an isomorphic copy of H such that each its vertex has the degree (in G) bounded above by a finite number φ(H,H) depending only on H and H. We prove that in the family of all 3-connected plane graphs of minimum degree 5 (or minimum face size 5, respectively), the paths with certain small graphs attached to one of its ends are light.     

A new characterization of HH-free graphs

We show that a graph G has no houses and no holes if and only if for every connected induced subgraph H of G and every vertex in H, either the vertex is adjacent to all the other vertices in H, or it forms a 2-pair of H with some other vertex in H. As a consequence, there is a simple linear time algorithm to find a 2-pair in HH-free graphs. We also note that the class of Meyniel graphs admits an analogous characterization.     

Snarks,Hypohamiltonian Graphs and Non-Supereulerian Graphs

A graph G is hypohamiltonian if it is not Hamiltonian but for each \(v\in V(G)\), the graph \(G-v\) is Hamiltonian. A graph is supereulerian if it has a spanning Eulerian subgraph. A graph G is called collapsible if for every even subset \(R\subseteq V(G)\), there is a spanning connected subgraph H of G such that R is the set of vertices of odd degree in H. A graph is reduced if it has no nontrivial collapsible subgraphs. In this note, we first prove that all hypohamiltonian cubic graphs are reduced non-supereulerian graphs. Then we introduce an operation to construct graphs from hypohamiltonian cubic graphs such that the resulting graphs are 3-edge-connected non-supereulerian reduced graphs and cannot be contracted to a snark. This disproves two conjectures, one of which was first posed by Catlin et al. in [Congr. Num. 76:173–181, 1990] and in [J. Combin. Theory, Ser B 66:123–139, 1996], and was posed again by Li et al. in [Acta Math. Sin. English Ser 30(2):291–304, 2014] and by Yang in [Supereulerian graphs, hamiltonicity of graphs and several extremal problems in graphs, Ph. D. Dissertation, Université Paris-Sub, September 27, 2013], respectively, the other one was posed by Yang 2013.