Spectra of digraphs

In this primarily expository paper we survey classical and some more recent results on the spectra of digraphs, equivalently, the spectra of (0,1)-matrices, with emphasis on the spectral radius.     

Unitary matrix digraphs and minimum semidefinite rank

For an undirected simple graph G, the minimum rank among all positive semidefinite matrices with graph G is called the minimum semidefinite rank (msr) of G. In this paper, we show that the msr of a given graph may be determined from the msr of a related bipartite graph. Finding the msr of a given bipartite graph is then shown to be equivalent to determining which digraphs encode the zero/nonzero pattern of a unitary matrix. We provide an algorithm to construct unitary matrices with a certain pattern, and use previous results to give a lower bound for the msr of certain bipartite graphs.     

Primitive non-powerful symmetric loop-free signed digraphs with given base and minimum number of arcs

In [B.M. Kim, B.C. Song, W. Hwang, Primitive graphs with given exponents and minimum number of edges, Linear Algebra Appl. 420 (2007) 648-662], the minimum number of edges of a simple graph on n vertices with exponent k was determined. In this paper, we completely determine the minimum number, H(n,k), of arcs of primitive non-powerful symmetric loop-free signed digraphs on n vertices with base k, characterize the underlying digraphs which have H(n,k) arcs when k is 2, nearly characterize the case when k is 3 and propose an open problem.     

Bartholdi zeta and L-functions of weighted digraphs, their coverings and products

Since a zeta function of a regular graph was introduced by Ihara [Y. Ihara, On discrete subgroups of the two by two projective linear group over p-adic fields, J. Math. Soc. Japan 19 (1966) 219-235], many kinds of zeta functions and L-functions of a graph or a digraph have been defined and investigated. Most of the works concerning zeta and L-functions of a graph contain the following: (1) defining a zeta function, (2) defining an L-function associated with a (regular) graph covering, (3) providing their determinant expressions, and (4) computing the zeta function of a graph covering and obtaining its decomposition formula as a product of L-functions. As a continuation of those works, we introduce a zeta function of a weighted digraph and an L-function associated with a weighted digraph bundle. A graph bundle is a notion containing a cartesian product of graphs and a (regular or irregular) graph covering. Also we provide determinant expressions of the zeta function and the L-function. Moreover, we compute the zeta function of a weighted digraph bundle and obtain its decomposition formula as a product of the L-functions.     

Lower bounds for the energy of digraphs

The energy of a digraph D is defined as , where z₁,…,z_n are the eigenvalues of D. In this article we find lower bounds for the energy of digraphs in terms of the number of closed walks of length 2, extending in this way the result obtained by Caporossi et al. [G. Caporossi, D. Cvetkovi?, I. Gutman, P. Hansen, Variable neighborhood search for extremal graphs. 2. Finding graphs with extremal energy, J. Chem. Inf. Comput. Sci. 39 (1999) 984-996]: for all graphs G with m edges. Also, we study digraphs with three eigenvalues.     

On the number of P-vertices of some graphs

We provide positive answers to some open questions presented recently by Kim and Shader on a continuity-like property of the P-vertices of nonsingular matrices whose graph is a path. A criterion for matrices associated with more general trees to have at most n − 1 P-vertices is established. The cases of the cycles and stars are also analyzed. Several algorithms for generating matrices with a given number of P-vertices are proposed.     

Generalized competition index of a primitive digraph

For positive integers k and m, and a digraph D, the k-step m-competition graph of D has the same set of vertices as D and an edge between vertices x and y if and only if there are distinct m vertices v₁,v₂,…,v_m in D such that there are directed walks of length k from x to v_i and from y to v_i for 1?i?m. In this paper, we present the definition of m-competition index for a primitive digraph. The m-competition index of a primitive digraph D is the smallest positive integer k such that is a complete graph. We study m-competition indices of primitive digraphs and provide an upper bound for the m-competition index of a primitive digraph.     

A bound on the generalized competition index of a primitive matrix using Boolean rank

For a positive integer m where 1?m?n, the m-competition index (generalized competition index) of a primitive digraph is the smallest positive integer k such that for every pair of vertices x and y, there exist m distinct vertices v₁,v₂,…,v_m such that there are directed walks of length k from x to v_i and from y to v_i for 1?i?m. The m-competition index is a generalization of the scrambling index and the exponent of a primitive digraph. In this study, we determine an upper bound on the m-competition index of a primitive digraph using Boolean rank and give examples of primitive Boolean matrices that attain the bound.     

Exponents of 2-coloring of symmetric digraphs

A 2-coloring (G₁,G₂) of a digraph is 2-primitive if there exist nonnegative integers h and k with h+k>0 such that for each ordered pair (u,v) of vertices there exists an (h,k)-walk in (G₁,G₂) from u to v. The exponent of (G₁,G₂) is the minimum value of h+k taken over all such h and k. In this paper, we consider 2-colorings of strongly connected symmetric digraphs with loops, establish necessary and sufficient conditions for these to be 2-primitive and determine an upper bound on their exponents. We also characterize the 2-colored digraphs that attain the upper bound and the exponent set for this family of digraphs on n vertices.     

Line graph of combinations of generalized Bethe trees: Eigenvalues and energy

We characterize the eigenvalues and energy of the line graph L(G) whenever G is (i) a generalized Bethe tree, (ii) a Bethe tree, (iii) a tree defined by generalized Bethe trees attached to a path, (iv) a tree defined by generalized Bethe trees having a common root, (v) a graph defined by copies of a generalized Bethe tree attached to a cycle and (vi) a graph defined by copies of a star attached to a cycle; in this case, explicit formulas for the eigenvalues and energy of L(G) are derived.     

Extreme values of the stationary distribution of random walks on directed graphs

We examine the stationary distribution of random walks on directed graphs. In particular, we focus on the principal ratio, which is the ratio of maximum to minimum values of vertices in the stationary distribution. We give an upper bound for this ratio over all strongly connected graphs on n vertices. We characterize all graphs achieving the upper bound and we give explicit constructions for these extremal graphs. Additionally, we show that under certain conditions, the principal ratio is tightly bounded. We also provide counterexamples to show the principal ratio cannot be tightly bounded under weaker conditions.     

Eigenvalues and degree deviation in graphs

Let G be a graph with n vertices and m edges and let μ(G) = μ₁(G) ? ? ? μ_n(G) be the eigenvalues of its adjacency matrix. Set s(G)=∑_u∈V(G)∣d(u)-2m/n∣. We prove that

     

The algebraic connectivity of graphs under perturbation

In this paper, we investigate how the algebraic connectivity of a connected graph behaves when the graph is perturbed by separating or grafting an edge.     

Hoffman polynomials of nonnegative irreducible matrices and strongly connected digraphs

For a nonnegative n × n matrix A, we find that there is a polynomial f(x)∈R[x] such that f(A) is a positive matrix of rank one if and only if A is irreducible. Furthermore, we show that the lowest degree such polynomial f(x) with tr f(A) = n is unique. Thus, generalizing the well-known definition of the Hoffman polynomial of a strongly connected regular digraph, for any irreducible nonnegative n × n matrix A, we are led to define its Hoffman polynomial to be the polynomial f(x) of minimum degree satisfying that f(A) is positive and has rank 1 and trace n. The Hoffman polynomial of a strongly connected digraph is defined to be the Hoffman polynomial of its adjacency matrix. We collect in this paper some basic results and open problems related to the concept of Hoffman polynomials.     

On the primitivity of Cayley digraphs

We give a necessary and sufficient group theoretic condition for a Cayley digraph to be primitive.     

The copositive completion problem: Unspecified diagonal entries

In [L. Hogben, C.R. Johnson, R. Reams, The copositive matrix completion problem, Linear Algebra Appl. 408 (2005) 207-211] it was shown that any partial (strictly) copositive matrix all of whose diagonal entries are specified can be completed to a (strictly) copositive matrix. In this note we show that every partial strictly copositive matrix (possibly with unspecified diagonal entries) can be completed to a strictly copositive matrix, but there is an example of a partial copositive matrix with an unspecified diagonal entry that cannot be completed to a copositive matrix.     

Potentially nilpotent and spectrally arbitrary even cycle sign patterns

An n × n sign pattern S_n is potentially nilpotent if there is a real matrix having sign pattern S_n and characteristic polynomial xⁿ. A new family of sign patterns C_n with a cycle of every even length is introduced and shown to be potentially nilpotent by explicitly determining the entries of a nilpotent matrix with sign pattern C_n. These nilpotent matrices are used together with a Jacobian argument to show that C_n is spectrally arbitrary, i.e., there is a real matrix having sign pattern C_n and characteristic polynomial for any real μ_i. Some results and a conjecture on minimality of these spectrally arbitrary sign patterns are given.     

Primitive digraphs with smallest large exponent

A primitive digraph D on n vertices has large exponent if its exponent, γ(D), satisfies α_n?γ(D)?w_n, where α_n=⌊w_n/2⌋+2 and w_n=(n-1)²+1. It is shown that the minimum number of arcs in a primitive digraph D on n?5 vertices with exponent equal to α_n is either n+1 or n+2. Explicit constructions are given for fixed n even and odd, for a primitive digraph on n vertices with exponent α_n and n+2 arcs. These constructions extend to digraphs with some exponents between α_n and w_n. A necessary and sufficient condition is presented for the existence of a primitive digraph on n vertices with exponent α_n and n+1 arcs. Together with some number theoretic results, this gives an algorithm that determines for fixed n whether the minimum number of arcs is n+1 or n+2.     

Energy of line graphs

The energy of a graph is equal to the sum of the absolute values of its eigenvalues. The energy of a matrix is equal to the sum of its singular values. We establish relations between the energy of the line graph of a graph G and the energies associated with the Laplacian and signless Laplacian matrices of G.     

Primitive digraphs with the largest scrambling index

The scrambling index of a primitive digraph D is the smallest positive integer k such that for every pair of vertices u and v, there is a vertex w such that we can get to w from u and v in D by directed walks of length k; it is denoted by k(D). In [M. Akelbek, S. Kirkland, Coefficients of ergodicity and the scrambling index, preprint] we gave the upper bound on k(D) in terms of the order and the girth of a primitive digraph D. In this paper, we characterize all the primitive digraphs such that the scrambling index is equal to the upper bound.