Short rainbow cycles in graphs and matroids

Let $G$ be a simple $n$-vertex graph and $c$ be a colouring of $E(G)$ with $n$ colours, where each colour class has size at least $2$. We prove that $(G,c)$ contains a rainbow cycle of length at most $\lceil \frac{n}{2} \rceil$, which is best possible. Our result settles a special case of a strengthening of the Caccetta-H\"aggkvist conjecture, due to Aharoni. We also show that the matroid generalization of our main result also holds for cographic matroids, but fails for binary matroids.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figure

On multicolor Ramsey numbers of triple system paths of length 3

Let $\mathcal{H}$ be a 3-uniform hypergraph. The multicolor Ramsey number $r_k(\mathcal{H})$ is the smallest integer $n$ such that every coloring of $\binom{[n]}{3}$ with $k$ colors has a monochromatic copy of $\mathcal{H}$. Let $\mathcal{L}$ be the loose 3-uniform path with 3 edges and $\mathcal{M}$ denote the messy 3-uniform path with 3 edges; that is, let $\mathcal{L} = \{abc, cde, efg\}$ and $\mathcal{M} = \{ abc, bcd, def\}$. In this note we prove $r_k(\mathcal{L}) < 1.55k$ and $r_k(\mathcal{M}) < 1.6k$ for $k$ sufficiently large. The former result improves on the bound $r_k( \mathcal{L}) < 1.975k + 7\sqrt{k}$, which was recently established by {\L}uczak and Polcyn.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figure

Turán Problems for <i>k</i> -Geodetic Digraphs

A digraph G is k-geodetic if for any pair of (not necessarily distinct) vertices u, v∈V(G) there is at most one walk of length ≤k from u to v in G. In this paper, we determine the largest possible size of a k-geodetic digraph with a given order. We then consider the more difficult problem of the largest size of a strongly-connected k-geodetic digraph with a given order, solving this problem for k=2 and giving a construction which we conjecture to be extremal for larger k. We close with some results on generalised Turán problems for the number of directed cycles and paths in k-geodetic digraphs

Large structures in dense directed graphs

We answer questions in extremal combinatorics, for directed graphs. Specifically, we investigate which large tree-like directed graphs are contained in all dense directed graphs of large order. More precisely, let T be an oriented tree of order n; among others, we establish the following results. (1) We obtain a sufficient condition which ensures every tournament of order n contains T, and show that almost every tree possesses this property. (2) We prove that for all positive C, ɛ and sufficiently large n, every tournament of order (1+ɛ)n contains T if Δ(T)≤(log n)^C. (3) We prove that for all positive Δ, ɛ and sufficiently large n, every directed graph G of order n and minimum semidegree (1/2+ɛ)n contains T if Δ(T)≤Δ. (4) We obtain a sufficient condition which ensures that every directed graph G of order n with minimum semidegree at least (1/2+ɛ)n contains T, and show that almost every tree possesses this property. (5) We extend our method in (4) to a class of tree-like spanning graphs which includes all orientations of Hamilton cycles and large subdivisions of any graph. Result (1) confirms a conjecture of Bender and Wormald and settles a conjecture of Havet and Thomassé for almost every tree; (2) strengthens a result of Kühn, Mycroft and Osthus; (3) is a directed graph analogue of a classical result of Komlós, Sárközy and Szemerédi and is implied by (4) and (5) is of independent interest

On the Existence of Loose Cycle Tilings and Rainbow Cycles

abstract: Extremal graph theory results often provide minimum degree conditions which guarantee a copy of one graph exists within another. A perfect $F$-tiling of a graph $G$ is a collection $\mathcal{F}$ of subgraphs of $G$ such that every element of $\mathcal{F}$ is isomorphic to $F$ and such that every vertex in $G$ is in exactly one element of $\mathcal{F}$. Let $C^{3}_{t}$ denote the loose cycle on $t = 2s$ vertices, the $3$-uniform hypergraph obtained by replacing the edges $e = \{u, v\}$ of a graph cycle $C$ on $s$ vertices with edge triples $\{u, x_e, v\}$, where $x_e$ is uniquely assigned to $e$. This dissertation proves for even $t \geq 6$, that any sufficiently large $3$-uniform hypergraph $H$ on $n \in t \mathbb{Z}$ vertices with minimum $1$-degree \delta^1(H) \geq {n - 1 \choose 2} - {\Bsize \choose 2} + c(t,n) + 1, where $c(t,n) \in \{0, 1, 3\}$, contains a perfect $C^{3}_{t}$-tiling. The result is tight, generalizing previous results on $C^3_4$ by Han and Zhao. For an edge colored graph $G$, let the minimum color degree $\delta^c(G)$ be the minimum number of distinctly colored edges incident to a vertex. Call $G$ rainbow if every edge has a unique color. For $\ell \geq 5$, this dissertation proves that any sufficiently large edge colored graph $G$ on $n$ vertices with $\delta^c(G) \geq \frac{n + 1}{2}$ contains a rainbow cycle on $\ell$ vertices. The result is tight for odd $\ell$ and extends previous results for $\ell = 3$. In addition, for even $\ell \geq 4$, this dissertation proves that any sufficiently large edge colored graph $G$ on $n$ vertices with $\delta^c(G) \geq \frac{n + c(\ell)}{3}$, where $c(\ell) \in \{5, 7\}$, contains a rainbow cycle on $\ell$ vertices. The result is tight when $6 \nmid \ell$. As a related result, this dissertation proves for all $\ell \geq 4$, that any sufficiently large oriented graph $D$ on $n$ vertices with $\delta^+(D) \geq \frac{n + 1}{3}$ contains a directed cycle on $\ell$ vertices. This partially generalizes a result by Kelly, K\"uhn, and Osthus that uses minimum semidegree rather than minimum out degree.Dissertation/ThesisDoctoral Dissertation Mathematics 201

Packing and Counting Permutations

A permutation class is a set of permutations closed under taking subpermutations. We study two aspects of permutation classes: enumeration and packing. Our work on enumeration consists of two campaigns. First, we enumerate all juxtaposition classes of the form “Av(abc) next to Av(xy)”, where abc and xy are permutations of lengths three and two, respectively. We represent elements from such a juxtaposition class by Dyck paths decorated with sequences of points. Context-free grammars are then used to enumerate these decorated Dyck paths. Second, we classify as algebraic the generating functions of 1×m permutation grid classes where one cell is context-free and the remaining cells are monotone. We rely on properties of combinatorial specifications of context-free classes and use operators to express juxtapositions. Repeated application of operators resolves cases for m > 2. We provide examples to re-prove known results and give new ones. Our methods are algorithmic and could be implemented on a PC. Our work on packing consolidates current knowledge about packing densities of 4-point permutations. We also improve the lower bounds for the packing densities of 1324 and 1342 and provide rigorous upper bounds for the packing densities of 1324, 1342, and 2413. All our bounds are within 10-4 of the true packing densities. Together with the known bounds, we have a fairly complete picture of 4-point packing densities. Additionally, we obtain several bounds (lower and upper) for permutations of length at least five. Our main tool for the upper bounds is the framework of flag algebras introduced by Razborov in 2007. We also present Permpack — a flag algebra package for permutations

Applications des limites de structures combinatoires en géométrie et en théorie des graphes

This thesis is focused on problems related to the theory of combinatorial limits.This theory opened links between different fields such asanalysis, combinatorics, geometry and probability theory.In this thesis, we apply ideas coming from this framework toproblems in extremal combinatorics.In a first chapter we develop a theory of limits for emph{order types},a geometrical object that encodes configuration of a set of points in theplane by the mean of the orientations of their triangles.The order type of a point set suffices to determine many of its properties,such as for instance the boundary of its convex hull.We show that the limit of a converging sequence of order typescan be represented by random-free object analogous to a graphon.Further, we link this notion to the natural distributions of order typesarising from the sampling of random points from some probability measureof the plane.We observe that in this mean, every probability measure gives rise to a limitof order types.We show that this map from probability measure on the plane to limit oforder type is not surjective.Concerning its injectivity,we prove that if a measure has large enough support, for instance if its supportcontains an open ball, the limit of order types the measure generatessuffices to essentially determine this measure.A second chapter is focused on property testing.A tester is a randomized algorithm for distinguishing between objects satisfyinga property from those that are at some distance at least εfrom having itby means of the edition distance.This gives very efficient algorithms, and in particular algorithms whosecomplexity does not depend on the size of the input but only on the parameter ε.For graphs, it has been shown by Alon and Shapira that every hereditary propertyhas such a tester.We contribute to the following question :which classes of graphs have a one-sided property tester with a number of queries that is a polynomial in 1/ε ?We give a proof that the class of interval graphs has such a tester.The theory of flag algebras is a framework introduced by Razborovclosely related to dense limit of graphs, that gives a way to systematicallyderive bounds for parameters in extremal combinatorics.In a third chapter we present a program developed during my Phd.that implements this method.This program works as a library that can compute flag algebras,manipulate inequalities on densities and encode the optimization of some parameterin a semi-definite positive instance that can be given to a dedicated solverto obtain a bound on this parameter.This program is in particular used to obtain a new bound forthe triangle case of the Caccetta-Häggkvist conjecture.Cette thèse traite de problèmes liés à la théorie des limitesd'objets combinatoires, une récente théorie qui a permis de tisserdes liens entre différents domaines tels que la combinatoire,l'analyse, la géométrie ou la théorie de la probabilité.Cette thèse applique des méthode venant de cette théorie à des problèmesde combinatoire extrémale.Dans un premier chapitre, je développe une théorie des limites d'objetsappelés emph{types d'ordre}, un objets qui encode des configurationsd'ensembles de points du plan. Le type d'ordre d'un ensemble de pointssuffit à caractériser de nombreuses propriétés essentielles de cet ensemblede point comme, par exemple, son enveloppe convexe.Je montre qu'une limite de type d'ordre peut être représentée par un objetanalogue à un graphon à valeurs O ou 1.Je fais ensuite le lien entre limites de type d'ordre et la distributionnaturelle de limite de type d'ordre obtenue par l’échantillonnage de pointsdu plan suivant une certaine probabilité.De cette manière, toute probabilité sur le plan engendre une limite de typed'ordre. Je montre d'une part que cette correspondance n'est pas surjective-c'est à dire qu'il existe des limites de type d'ordre ne venant pas de probabilitédu plan- et j'étudie d'autre part son injectivité.Je montre que si le support d'une mesure de probabilité est assez gros, par exemple siil contient une boule ouvert, alors la limite que cette mesure engendre suffit à caractériser cette mesure à une transformation projective près.Un second chapitre traite de test de propriété.Un testeur de propriété est un algorithme aléatoire permettant de séparerles objets ayant une certaine propriété des objet à distance au moins εde l'avoir, au sens de la distance d'édition.Ce domaine donne des algorithmes extrêmement rapides, et en particulierdes algorithmes dont la complexité ne dépends pas de la taille de l'entréemais seulement du paramètre de précision ε.Un résultat fondamental de cet domaine pour les graphes montré par Alonet Shapira est le suivant : toute classe de graphe héréditaire possède un teltesteur.Cette thèse contribue à la question suivante :Quelles classes de graphes possède un testeur dont la complexité est unpolynôme en 1/ε ?Je montre qu'en particulier la classe des graphes d'intervales possède un teltesteur.La théorie des algèbres de drapeaux est un outil étroitement lié aux limites degraphes denses qui donne une méthode pour démontrer des bornes sur certainsparamètres combinatoires à l'aide d'un ordinateur.Dans un troisième chapitre, je présente un programme écrit durant ma thèsequi implémente cette méthode.Ce programme fonctionne comme une bibliothèque pour calculer dans les algèbresde drapeaux, manipuler des inégalités sur les drapeaux ou encoder des problèmesd'optimisations par une instance de programme semi-défini positif qui peutensuite être résolu par un solveur externe.Ce programme est en particulier utilisé pour obtenir un nouvelle borne pour le cas triangulaire de la conjecture de Caccetta-Häggkvist

Applications of limits of combinatorial structures in geometry and graph theory

Cette thèse traite de problèmes liés à la théorie des limitesd'objets combinatoires, une récente théorie qui a permis de tisserdes liens entre différents domaines tels que la combinatoire,l'analyse, la géométrie ou la théorie de la probabilité.Cette thèse applique des méthode venant de cette théorie à des problèmesde combinatoire extrémale.Dans un premier chapitre, je développe une théorie des limites d'objetsappelés emph{types d'ordre}, un objets qui encode des configurationsd'ensembles de points du plan. Le type d'ordre d'un ensemble de pointssuffit à caractériser de nombreuses propriétés essentielles de cet ensemblede point comme, par exemple, son enveloppe convexe.Je montre qu'une limite de type d'ordre peut être représentée par un objetanalogue à un graphon à valeurs O ou 1.Je fais ensuite le lien entre limites de type d'ordre et la distributionnaturelle de limite de type d'ordre obtenue par l’échantillonnage de pointsdu plan suivant une certaine probabilité.De cette manière, toute probabilité sur le plan engendre une limite de typed'ordre. Je montre d'une part que cette correspondance n'est pas surjective-c'est à dire qu'il existe des limites de type d'ordre ne venant pas de probabilitédu plan- et j'étudie d'autre part son injectivité.Je montre que si le support d'une mesure de probabilité est assez gros, par exemple siil contient une boule ouvert, alors la limite que cette mesure engendre suffit à caractériser cette mesure à une transformation projective près.Un second chapitre traite de test de propriété.Un testeur de propriété est un algorithme aléatoire permettant de séparerles objets ayant une certaine propriété des objet à distance au moins εde l'avoir, au sens de la distance d'édition.Ce domaine donne des algorithmes extrêmement rapides, et en particulierdes algorithmes dont la complexité ne dépends pas de la taille de l'entréemais seulement du paramètre de précision ε.Un résultat fondamental de cet domaine pour les graphes montré par Alonet Shapira est le suivant : toute classe de graphe héréditaire possède un teltesteur.Cette thèse contribue à la question suivante :Quelles classes de graphes possède un testeur dont la complexité est unpolynôme en 1/ε ?Je montre qu'en particulier la classe des graphes d'intervales possède un teltesteur.La théorie des algèbres de drapeaux est un outil étroitement lié aux limites degraphes denses qui donne une méthode pour démontrer des bornes sur certainsparamètres combinatoires à l'aide d'un ordinateur.Dans un troisième chapitre, je présente un programme écrit durant ma thèsequi implémente cette méthode.Ce programme fonctionne comme une bibliothèque pour calculer dans les algèbresde drapeaux, manipuler des inégalités sur les drapeaux ou encoder des problèmesd'optimisations par une instance de programme semi-défini positif qui peutensuite être résolu par un solveur externe.Ce programme est en particulier utilisé pour obtenir un nouvelle borne pour le cas triangulaire de la conjecture de Caccetta-Häggkvist.This thesis is focused on problems related to the theory of combinatorial limits.This theory opened links between different fields such asanalysis, combinatorics, geometry and probability theory.In this thesis, we apply ideas coming from this framework toproblems in extremal combinatorics.In a first chapter we develop a theory of limits for emph{order types},a geometrical object that encodes configuration of a set of points in theplane by the mean of the orientations of their triangles.The order type of a point set suffices to determine many of its properties,such as for instance the boundary of its convex hull.We show that the limit of a converging sequence of order typescan be represented by random-free object analogous to a graphon.Further, we link this notion to the natural distributions of order typesarising from the sampling of random points from some probability measureof the plane.We observe that in this mean, every probability measure gives rise to a limitof order types.We show that this map from probability measure on the plane to limit oforder type is not surjective.Concerning its injectivity,we prove that if a measure has large enough support, for instance if its supportcontains an open ball, the limit of order types the measure generatessuffices to essentially determine this measure.A second chapter is focused on property testing.A tester is a randomized algorithm for distinguishing between objects satisfyinga property from those that are at some distance at least εfrom having itby means of the edition distance.This gives very efficient algorithms, and in particular algorithms whosecomplexity does not depend on the size of the input but only on the parameter ε.For graphs, it has been shown by Alon and Shapira that every hereditary propertyhas such a tester.We contribute to the following question :which classes of graphs have a one-sided property tester with a number of queries that is a polynomial in 1/ε ?We give a proof that the class of interval graphs has such a tester.The theory of flag algebras is a framework introduced by Razborovclosely related to dense limit of graphs, that gives a way to systematicallyderive bounds for parameters in extremal combinatorics.In a third chapter we present a program developed during my Phd.that implements this method.This program works as a library that can compute flag algebras,manipulate inequalities on densities and encode the optimization of some parameterin a semi-definite positive instance that can be given to a dedicated solverto obtain a bound on this parameter.This program is in particular used to obtain a new bound forthe triangle case of the Caccetta-Häggkvist conjecture