On graphs with no induced subdivision of K4K_4

We prove a decomposition theorem for graphs that do not contain a subdivision of $K_4$ as an induced subgraph where $K_4$ is the complete graph on four vertices. We obtain also a structure theorem for the class $\cal C$ of graphs that contain neither a subdivision of $K_4$ nor a wheel as an induced subgraph, where a wheel is a cycle on at least four vertices together with a vertex that has at least three neighbors on the cycle. Our structure theorem is used to prove that every graph in $\cal C$ is 3-colorable and entails a polynomial-time recognition algorithm for membership in $\cal C$. As an intermediate result, we prove a structure theorem for the graphs whose cycles are all chordless

On graphs that do not contain a subdivision of the complete graph on four vertices as an induced subgraph

We prove a decomposition theorem for graphs that do not contain a subdivision of the complete graph on four vertices as an induced subgraph.Induced, subgraph, decomposition.

Span programs and quantum algorithms for st-connectivity and claw detection

We introduce a span program that decides st-connectivity, and generalize the span program to develop quantum algorithms for several graph problems. First, we give an algorithm for st-connectivity that uses O(n d^{1/2}) quantum queries to the n x n adjacency matrix to decide if vertices s and t are connected, under the promise that they either are connected by a path of length at most d, or are disconnected. We also show that if T is a path, a star with two subdivided legs, or a subdivision of a claw, its presence as a subgraph in the input graph G can be detected with O(n) quantum queries to the adjacency matrix. Under the promise that G either contains T as a subgraph or does not contain T as a minor, we give O(n)-query quantum algorithms for detecting T either a triangle or a subdivision of a star. All these algorithms can be implemented time efficiently and, except for the triangle-detection algorithm, in logarithmic space. One of the main techniques is to modify the st-connectivity span program to drop along the way "breadcrumbs," which must be retrieved before the path from s is allowed to enter t.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figure

Finding an induced subdivision of a digraph

We consider the following problem for oriented graphs and digraphs: Given an oriented graph (digraph) $G$, does it contain an induced subdivision of a prescribed digraph $D$? The complexity of this problem depends on $D$ and on whether $G$ must be an oriented graph or is allowed to contain 2-cycles. We give a number of examples of polynomial instances as well as several NP-completeness proofs