Sparse Kneser graphs are Hamiltonian

For integers $k\geq 1$ and $n\geq 2k+1$, the Kneser graph $K(n,k)$ is the graph whose vertices are the $k$-element subsets of $\{1,\ldots,n\}$ and whose edges connect pairs of subsets that are disjoint. The Kneser graphs of the form $K(2k+1,k)$ are also known as the odd graphs. We settle an old problem due to Meredith, Lloyd, and Biggs from the 1970s, proving that for every $k\geq 3$, the odd graph $K(2k+1,k)$ has a Hamilton cycle. This and a known conditional result due to Johnson imply that all Kneser graphs of the form $K(2k+2^a,k)$ with $k\geq 3$ and $a\geq 0$ have a Hamilton cycle. We also prove that $K(2k+1,k)$ has at least $2^{2^{k-6}}$ distinct Hamilton cycles for $k\geq 6$. Our proofs are based on a reduction of the Hamiltonicity problem in the odd graph to the problem of finding a spanning tree in a suitably defined hypergraph on Dyck words

Sparse Kneser graphs are Hamiltonian

For integers k≥1 and n≥2k+1, the Kneser graph K(n,k) is the graph whose vertices are the k-element subsets of {1,…,n} and whose edges connect pairs of subsets that are disjoint. The Kneser graphs of the form K(2k+1,k) are also known as the odd graphs. We settle an old problem due to Meredith, Lloyd, and Biggs from the 1970s, proving that for every k≥3, the odd graph K(2k+1,k) has a Hamilton cycle. This and a known conditional result due to Johnson imply that all Kneser graphs of the form K(2k+2a,k) with k≥3 and a≥0 have a Hamilton cycle. We also prove that K(2k+1,k) has at least 22k−6 distinct Hamilton cycles for k≥6. Our proofs are based on a reduction of the Hamiltonicity problem in the odd graph to the problem of finding a spanning tree in a suitably defined hypergraph on Dyck words