Distance graphs with maximum chromatic number

Let $D$ be a finite set of integers. The distance graph $G(D)$ has the set of integers as vertices and two vertices at distance $d ∈D$ are adjacent in $G(D)$. A conjecture of Xuding Zhu states that if the chromatic number of $G (D)$ achieves its maximum value $|D|+1$ then the graph has a clique of order $|D|$. We prove that the chromatic number of a distance graph with $D=\{ a,b,c,d\}$ is five if and only if either $D=\{1,2,3,4k\}$ or $D=\{ a,b,a+b,a+2b\}$ with $a \equiv 0 (mod 2)$ and $b \equiv 1 (mod 2)$. This confirms Zhu's conjecture for $|D|=4$

Packing Chromatic Number of Distance Graphs

The packing chromatic number $\chi_{\rho}(G)$ of a graph $G$ is the smallest integer $k$ such that vertices of $G$ can be partitioned into disjoint classes $X_1, ..., X_k$ where vertices in $X_i$ have pairwise distance greater than $i$. We study the packing chromatic number of infinite distance graphs $G(Z, D)$, i.e. graphs with the set $Z$ of integers as vertex set and in which two distinct vertices $i, j \in Z$ are adjacent if and only if $|i - j| \in D$. In this paper we focus on distance graphs with $D = \{1, t\}$. We improve some results of Togni who initiated the study. It is shown that $\chi_{\rho}(G(Z, D)) \leq 35$ for sufficiently large odd $t$ and $\chi_{\rho}(G(Z, D)) \leq 56$ for sufficiently large even $t$. We also give a lower bound 12 for $t \geq 9$ and tighten several gaps for $\chi_{\rho}(G(Z, D))$ with small $t$.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figure

On Packing Colorings of Distance Graphs

The {\em packing chromatic number} $\chi_{\rho}(G)$ of a graph $G$ is the least integer $k$ for which there exists a mapping $f$ from $V(G)$ to $\{1,2,\ldots ,k\}$ such that any two vertices of color $i$ are at distance at least $i+1$. This paper studies the packing chromatic number of infinite distance graphs $G(\mathbb{Z},D)$, i.e. graphs with the set $\mathbb{Z}$ of integers as vertex set, with two distinct vertices $i,j\in \mathbb{Z}$ being adjacent if and only if $|i-j|\in D$. We present lower and upper bounds for $\chi_{\rho}(G(\mathbb{Z},D))$, showing that for finite $D$, the packing chromatic number is finite. Our main result concerns distance graphs with $D=\{1,t\}$ for which we prove some upper bounds on their packing chromatic numbers, the smaller ones being for $t\geq 447$: $\chi_{\rho}(G(\mathbb{Z},\{1,t\}))\leq 40$ if $t$ is odd and $\chi_{\rho}(G(\mathbb{Z},\{1,t\}))\leq 81$ if $t$ is even

The lonely runner with seven runners

Suppose $k+1$ runners having nonzero constant speeds run laps on a unit-length circular track starting at the same time and place. A runner is said to be lonely if she is at distance at least $1/(k+1)$ along the track to every other runner. The lonely runner conjecture states that every runner gets lonely. The conjecture has been proved up to six runners ($k\le 5$). A formulation of the problem is related to the regular chromatic number of distance graphs. We use a new tool developed in this context to solve the first open case of the conjecture with seven runners

On the independence ratio of distance graphs

A distance graph is an undirected graph on the integers where two integers are adjacent if their difference is in a prescribed distance set. The independence ratio of a distance graph $G$ is the maximum density of an independent set in $G$. Lih, Liu, and Zhu [Star extremal circulant graphs, SIAM J. Discrete Math. 12 (1999) 491--499] showed that the independence ratio is equal to the inverse of the fractional chromatic number, thus relating the concept to the well studied question of finding the chromatic number of distance graphs. We prove that the independence ratio of a distance graph is achieved by a periodic set, and we present a framework for discharging arguments to demonstrate upper bounds on the independence ratio. With these tools, we determine the exact independence ratio for several infinite families of distance sets of size three, determine asymptotic values for others, and present several conjectures.Comment: 39 pages, 12 figures, 6 table

Distance graphs with maximum chromatic number

Let D be a finite set of integers. The distance graph G(D) has the set of integers as vertices and two vertices at distance d ∈ D are adjacent in G(D). A conjecture of Xuding Zhu states that if the chromatic number of G(D) achieves its maximum value |D | + 1 then the graph has a clique of order |D|. We prove that the chromatic number of a distance graph with D = {a, b, c, d} is five if and only if either D = {1, 2, 3, 4k} or D = {a, b, a + b, a + 2b} with a ≡ 0 (mod 2) and b ≡ 1 (mod 2). This confirms Zhu’s conjecture for |D | = 4