An algorithm for packing non-zero A-paths in group-labelled graphs

Let G = (V, E) be an oriented graph whose edges are labelled by the elements of a group Γ and let A ⊆ V. An A-path is a path whose ends are both in A. The weight of a path P in G is the sum of the group values on forward oriented arcs minus the sum of the backward oriented arcs in P. (If Γ is not abelian, we sum the labels in their order along the path.) We give an efficient algorithm for finding a maximum collection of vertex-disjoint A-paths each of non-zero weight. When A = V this problem is equivalent to the maximum matching problem. This research was partially conducted during the period Chudnovsky served as a Clay Mathematics Institute Long-Term Prize Fellow. The research was supported in part by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada.