30 research outputs found
Combinatorics and geometry of finite and infinite squaregraphs
Squaregraphs were originally defined as finite plane graphs in which all
inner faces are quadrilaterals (i.e., 4-cycles) and all inner vertices (i.e.,
the vertices not incident with the outer face) have degrees larger than three.
The planar dual of a finite squaregraph is determined by a triangle-free chord
diagram of the unit disk, which could alternatively be viewed as a
triangle-free line arrangement in the hyperbolic plane. This representation
carries over to infinite plane graphs with finite vertex degrees in which the
balls are finite squaregraphs. Algebraically, finite squaregraphs are median
graphs for which the duals are finite circular split systems. Hence
squaregraphs are at the crosspoint of two dualities, an algebraic and a
geometric one, and thus lend themselves to several combinatorial
interpretations and structural characterizations. With these and the
5-colorability theorem for circle graphs at hand, we prove that every
squaregraph can be isometrically embedded into the Cartesian product of five
trees. This embedding result can also be extended to the infinite case without
reference to an embedding in the plane and without any cardinality restriction
when formulated for median graphs free of cubes and further finite
obstructions. Further, we exhibit a class of squaregraphs that can be embedded
into the product of three trees and we characterize those squaregraphs that are
embeddable into the product of just two trees. Finally, finite squaregraphs
enjoy a number of algorithmic features that do not extend to arbitrary median
graphs. For instance, we show that median-generating sets of finite
squaregraphs can be computed in polynomial time, whereas, not unexpectedly, the
corresponding problem for median graphs turns out to be NP-hard.Comment: 46 pages, 14 figure
Manhattan orbifolds
We investigate a class of metrics for 2-manifolds in which, except for a
discrete set of singular points, the metric is locally isometric to an L_1 (or
equivalently L_infinity) metric, and show that with certain additional
conditions such metrics are injective. We use this construction to find the
tight span of squaregraphs and related graphs, and we find an injective metric
that approximates the distances in the hyperbolic plane analogously to the way
the rectilinear metrics approximate the Euclidean distance.Comment: 17 pages, 15 figures. Some definitions and proofs have been revised
since the previous version, and a new example has been adde
Topological obstructions for vertex numbers of Minkowski sums
We show that for polytopes P_1, P_2, ..., P_r \subset \R^d, each having n_i
\ge d+1 vertices, the Minkowski sum P_1 + P_2 + ... + P_r cannot achieve the
maximum of \prod_i n_i vertices if r \ge d. This complements a recent result of
Fukuda & Weibel (2006), who show that this is possible for up to d-1 summands.
The result is obtained by combining methods from discrete geometry (Gale
transforms) and topological combinatorics (van Kampen--type obstructions) as
developed in R\"{o}rig, Sanyal, and Ziegler (2007).Comment: 13 pages, 2 figures; Improved exposition and less typos.
Construction/example and remarks adde
Optimal Point Placement for Mesh Smoothing
We study the problem of moving a vertex in an unstructured mesh of
triangular, quadrilateral, or tetrahedral elements to optimize the shapes of
adjacent elements. We show that many such problems can be solved in linear time
using generalized linear programming. We also give efficient algorithms for
some mesh smoothing problems that do not fit into the generalized linear
programming paradigm.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures. A preliminary version of this paper was
presented at the 8th ACM/SIAM Symp. on Discrete Algorithms (SODA '97). This
is the final version, and will appear in a special issue of J. Algorithms for
papers from SODA '9
On k-Convex Polygons
We introduce a notion of -convexity and explore polygons in the plane that
have this property. Polygons which are \mbox{-convex} can be triangulated
with fast yet simple algorithms. However, recognizing them in general is a
3SUM-hard problem. We give a characterization of \mbox{-convex} polygons, a
particularly interesting class, and show how to recognize them in \mbox{} time. A description of their shape is given as well, which leads to
Erd\H{o}s-Szekeres type results regarding subconfigurations of their vertex
sets. Finally, we introduce the concept of generalized geometric permutations,
and show that their number can be exponential in the number of
\mbox{-convex} objects considered.Comment: 23 pages, 19 figure
Recommended from our members
Discrete Geometry (hybrid meeting)
A number of important recent developments in various branches of
discrete geometry were presented at the workshop, which took place in
hybrid format due to a pandemic situation. The presentations
illustrated both the diversity of the area and its strong connections
to other fields of mathematics such as topology, combinatorics,
algebraic geometry or functional analysis. The open questions abound
and many of the results presented were obtained by young researchers,
confirming the great vitality of discrete geometry
Discrete Geometry and Convexity in Honour of Imre Bárány
This special volume is contributed by the speakers of the Discrete Geometry and
Convexity conference, held in Budapest, June 19–23, 2017. The aim of the conference
is to celebrate the 70th birthday and the scientific achievements of professor
Imre Bárány, a pioneering researcher of discrete and convex geometry, topological
methods, and combinatorics. The extended abstracts presented here are written by
prominent mathematicians whose work has special connections to that of professor
Bárány. Topics that are covered include: discrete and combinatorial geometry,
convex geometry and general convexity, topological and combinatorial methods.
The research papers are presented here in two sections. After this preface and a
short overview of Imre Bárány’s works, the main part consists of 20 short but very
high level surveys and/or original results (at least an extended abstract of them)
by the invited speakers. Then in the second part there are 13 short summaries of
further contributed talks.
We would like to dedicate this volume to Imre, our great teacher, inspiring
colleague, and warm-hearted friend