Determination of the star valency of a graph

AbstractThe star valency of a graph G is the minimum, over all star decompositions π, of the maximum number of elements in π incident with a vertex. The maximum average degree of G, denoted by dmax-ave(G), is the maximum average degree of all subgraphs of G. In this paper, we prove that the star valency of G is either ⌈dmax-ave(G)/2⌉ or ⌈dmax-ave(G)/2⌉+1, and provide a polynomial time algorithm for determining the star valency of a graph

Symmetric Vertex Models on Planar Random Graphs

We solve a 4-(bond)-vertex model on an ensemble of 3-regular Phi3 planar random graphs, which has the effect of coupling the vertex model to 2D quantum gravity. The method of solution, by mapping onto an Ising model in field, is inspired by the solution by Wu et.al. of the regular lattice equivalent -- a symmetric 8-vertex model on the honeycomb lattice, and also applies to higher valency bond vertex models on random graphs when the vertex weights depend only on bond numbers and not cyclic ordering (the so-called symmetric vertex models). The relations between the vertex weights and Ising model parameters in the 4-vertex model on Phi3 graphs turn out to be identical to those of the honeycomb lattice model, as is the form of the equation of the Ising critical locus for the vertex weights. A symmetry of the partition function under transformations of the vertex weights, which is fundamental to the solution in both cases, can be understood in the random graph case as a change of integration variable in the matrix integral used to define the model. Finally, we note that vertex models, such as that discussed in this paper, may have a role to play in the discretisation of Lorentzian metric quantum gravity in two dimensions.Comment: Tidied up version accepted for publication in PL

Characterising vertex-star transitive and edge-star transitive graphs

Recent work of Lazarovich provides necessary and sufficient conditions on a graph L for there to exist a unique simply-connected (k, L)-complex. The two conditions are symmetry properties of the graph, namely vertex-star transitivity and edge-star transitivity. In this paper we investigate vertex- and edge-star transitive graphs by studying the structure of the vertex and edge stabilisers of such graphs. We also provide new examples of graphs that are both vertex-star transitive and edge-star transitive

Roots, symmetries and conjugacy of pseudo-Anosov mapping classes

An algorithm is proposed that solves two decision problems for pseudo-Anosov elements in the mapping class group of a surface with at least one marked fixed point. The first problem is the root problem: decide if the element is a power and in this case compute the roots. The second problem is the symmetry problem: decide if the element commutes with a finite order element and in this case compute this element. The structure theorem on which this algorithm is based provides also a new solution to the conjugacy problem