Homomorphisms of binary Cayley graphs

A binary Cayley graph is a Cayley graph based on a binary group. In 1982, Payan proved that any non-bipartite binary Cayley graph must contain a generalized Mycielski graph of an odd-cycle, implying that such a graph cannot have chromatic number 3. We strengthen this result first by proving that any non-bipartite binary Cayley graph must contain a projective cube as a subgraph. We further conjecture that any homo- morphism of a non-bipartite binary Cayley graph to a projective cube must be surjective and we prove some special case of this conjecture

Matrix partitions of perfect graphs

AbstractGiven a symmetric m by m matrix M over 0,1,*, the M-partition problem asks whether or not an input graph G can be partitioned into m parts corresponding to the rows (and columns) of M so that two distinct vertices from parts i and j (possibly with i=j) are non-adjacent if M(i,j)=0, and adjacent if M(i,j)=1. These matrix partition problems generalize graph colourings and homomorphisms, and arise frequently in the study of perfect graphs; example problems include split graphs, clique and skew cutsets, homogeneous sets, and joins.In this paper we study M-partitions restricted to perfect graphs. We identify a natural class of ‘normal’ matrices M for which M-partitionability of perfect graphs can be characterized by a finite family of forbidden induced subgraphs (and hence admits polynomial time algorithms for perfect graphs). We further classify normal matrices into two classes: for the first class, the size of the forbidden subgraphs is linear in the size of M; for the second class we only prove exponential bounds on the size of forbidden subgraphs. (We exhibit normal matrices of the second class for which linear bounds do not hold.)We present evidence that matrices M which are not normal yield badly behaved M-partition problems: there are polynomial time solvable M-partition problems that do not have finite forbidden subgraph characterizations for perfect graphs. There are M-partition problems that are NP-complete for perfect graphs. There are classes of matrices M for which even proving ‘dichotomy’ of the corresponding M-partition problems for perfect graphs—i.e., proving that these problems are all polynomial or NP-complete—is likely to be difficult

Graph Relations and Constrained Homomorphism Partial Orders

We consider constrained variants of graph homomorphisms such as embeddings, monomorphisms, full homomorphisms, surjective homomorpshims, and locally constrained homomorphisms. We also introduce a new variation on this theme which derives from relations between graphs and is related to multihomomorphisms. This gives a generalization of surjective homomorphisms and naturally leads to notions of R-retractions, R-cores, and R-cocores of graphs. Both R-cores and R-cocores of graphs are unique up to isomorphism and can be computed in polynomial time. The theory of the graph homomorphism order is well developed, and from it we consider analogous notions defined for orders induced by constrained homomorphisms. We identify corresponding cores, prove or disprove universality, characterize gaps and dualities. We give a new and significantly easier proof of the universality of the homomorphism order by showing that even the class of oriented cycles is universal. We provide a systematic approach to simplify the proofs of several earlier results in this area. We explore in greater detail locally injective homomorphisms on connected graphs, characterize gaps and show universality. We also prove that for every $d\geq 3$ the homomorphism order on the class of line graphs of graphs with maximum degree $d$ is universal

The road problem and homomorphisms of directed graphs

We make progress on a generalization of the road (colouring) problem. The road problem was posed by Adler-Goodwyn-Weiss and solved by Trahtman. The generalization was posed, and solved in certain special cases, by Ashley-Marcus-Tuncel. We resolve two new families of cases, of which one generalizes the road problem and follows Trahtman's solution, and the other generalizes a result of Ashley-Marcus-Tuncel with a proof quite different from theirs. Along the way, we prove a universal property for the fiber product of certain graph homomorphisms, which may be of independent interest. We provide polynomial-time algorithms for relevant constructions and decision problems.Comment: 25 pages, no figure

Between primitive and 2-transitive : synchronization and its friends

The second author was supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology) through the project CEMAT-CIÊNCIAS UID/Multi/ 04621/2013An automaton (consisting of a finite set of states with given transitions) is said to be synchronizing if there is a word in the transitions which sends all states of the automaton to a single state. Research on this topic has been driven by the Černý conjecture, one of the oldest and most famous problems in automata theory, according to which a synchronizing n-state automaton has a reset word of length at most (n − 1)2 . The transitions of an automaton generate a transformation monoid on the set of states, and so an automaton can be regarded as a transformation monoid with a prescribed set of generators. In this setting, an automaton is synchronizing if the transitions generate a constant map. A permutation group G on a set Ω is said to synchronize a map f if the monoid (G, f) generated by G and f is synchronizing in the above sense; we say G is synchronizing if it synchronizes every non-permutation. The classes of synchronizing groups and friends form an hierarchy of natural and elegant classes of groups lying strictly between the classes of primitive and 2-homogeneous groups. These classes have been floating around for some years and it is now time to provide a unified reference on them. The study of all these classes has been prompted by the Černý conjecture, but it is of independent interest since it involves a rich mix of group theory, combinatorics, graph endomorphisms, semigroup theory, finite geometry, and representation theory, and has interesting computational aspects as well. So as to make the paper self-contained, we have provided background material on these topics. Our purpose here is to present recent work on synchronizing groups and related topics. In addition to the results that show the connections between the various areas of mathematics mentioned above, we include a new result on the Černý conjecture (a strengthening of a theorem of Rystsov), some challenges to finite geometers (which classical polar spaces can be partitioned into ovoids?), some thoughts about infinite analogues, and a long list of open problems to stimulate further work.PostprintPeer reviewe

Layout of Graphs with Bounded Tree-Width

A \emph{queue layout} of a graph consists of a total order of the vertices, and a partition of the edges into \emph{queues}, such that no two edges in the same queue are nested. The minimum number of queues in a queue layout of a graph is its \emph{queue-number}. A \emph{three-dimensional (straight-line grid) drawing} of a graph represents the vertices by points in $\mathbb{Z}^3$ and the edges by non-crossing line-segments. This paper contributes three main results: (1) It is proved that the minimum volume of a certain type of three-dimensional drawing of a graph $G$ is closely related to the queue-number of $G$. In particular, if $G$ is an $n$-vertex member of a proper minor-closed family of graphs (such as a planar graph), then $G$ has a $O(1)\times O(1)\times O(n)$ drawing if and only if $G$ has O(1) queue-number. (2) It is proved that queue-number is bounded by tree-width, thus resolving an open problem due to Ganley and Heath (2001), and disproving a conjecture of Pemmaraju (1992). This result provides renewed hope for the positive resolution of a number of open problems in the theory of queue layouts. (3) It is proved that graphs of bounded tree-width have three-dimensional drawings with O(n) volume. This is the most general family of graphs known to admit three-dimensional drawings with O(n) volume. The proofs depend upon our results regarding \emph{track layouts} and \emph{tree-partitions} of graphs, which may be of independent interest.Comment: This is a revised version of a journal paper submitted in October 2002. This paper incorporates the following conference papers: (1) Dujmovic', Morin & Wood. Path-width and three-dimensional straight-line grid drawings of graphs (GD'02), LNCS 2528:42-53, Springer, 2002. (2) Wood. Queue layouts, tree-width, and three-dimensional graph drawing (FSTTCS'02), LNCS 2556:348--359, Springer, 2002. (3) Dujmovic' & Wood. Tree-partitions of $k$-trees with applications in graph layout (WG '03), LNCS 2880:205-217, 200