Hitting Subgraphs in Sparse Graphs and Geometric Intersection Graphs

We investigate a fundamental vertex-deletion problem called (Induced) Subgraph Hitting: given a graph $G$ and a set $\mathcal{F}$ of forbidden graphs, the goal is to compute a minimum-sized set $S$ of vertices of $G$ such that $G-S$ does not contain any graph in $\mathcal{F}$ as an (induced) subgraph. This is a generic problem that encompasses many well-known problems that were extensively studied on their own, particularly (but not only) from the perspectives of both approximation and parameterization. We focus on the design of efficient approximation schemes, i.e., with running time $f(\varepsilon,\mathcal{F}) \cdot n^{O(1)}$, which are also of significant interest to both communities. Technically, our main contribution is a linear-time approximation-preserving reduction from (Induced) Subgraph Hitting on any graph class $\mathcal{G}$ of bounded expansion to the same problem on bounded degree graphs within $\mathcal{G}$. This yields a novel algorithmic technique to design (efficient) approximation schemes for the problem on very broad graph classes, well beyond the state-of-the-art. Specifically, applying this reduction, we derive approximation schemes with (almost) linear running time for the problem on any graph classes that have strongly sublinear separators and many important classes of geometric intersection graphs (such as fat-object graphs, pseudo-disk graphs, etc.). Our proofs introduce novel concepts and combinatorial observations that may be of independent interest (and, which we believe, will find other uses) for studies of approximation algorithms, parameterized complexity, sparse graph classes, and geometric intersection graphs. As a byproduct, we also obtain the first robust algorithm for $k$-Subgraph Isomorphism on intersection graphs of fat objects and pseudo-disks, with running time $f(k) \cdot n \log n + O(m)$.Comment: 60 pages, abstract shortened to fulfill the length limi

LIPIcs, Volume 244, ESA 2022, Complete Volume

LIPIcs, Volume 244, ESA 2022, Complete Volum

A survey of parameterized algorithms and the complexity of edge modification

The survey is a comprehensive overview of the developing area of parameterized algorithms for graph modification problems. It describes state of the art in kernelization, subexponential algorithms, and parameterized complexity of graph modification. The main focus is on edge modification problems, where the task is to change some adjacencies in a graph to satisfy some required properties. To facilitate further research, we list many open problems in the area.publishedVersio

LIPIcs, Volume 261, ICALP 2023, Complete Volume

LIPIcs, Volume 261, ICALP 2023, Complete Volum

LIPIcs, Volume 274, ESA 2023, Complete Volume

LIPIcs, Volume 274, ESA 2023, Complete Volum

LIPIcs, Volume 248, ISAAC 2022, Complete Volume

LIPIcs, Volume 248, ISAAC 2022, Complete Volum

Compound Logics for Modification Problems

We introduce a novel model-theoretic framework inspired from graph modification and based on the interplay between model theory and algorithmic graph minors. The core of our framework is a new compound logic operating with two types of sentences, expressing graph modification: the modulator sentence, defining some property of the modified part of the graph, and the target sentence, defining some property of the resulting graph. In our framework, modulator sentences are in counting monadic second-order logic (CMSOL) and have models of bounded treewidth, while target sentences express first-order logic (FOL) properties along with minor-exclusion. Our logic captures problems that are not definable in first-order logic and, moreover, may have instances of unbounded treewidth. Also, it permits the modeling of wide families of problems involving vertex/edge removals, alternative modulator measures (such as elimination distance or $\mathcal{G}$-treewidth), multistage modifications, and various cut problems. Our main result is that, for this compound logic, model-checking can be done in quadratic time. All derived algorithms are constructive and this, as a byproduct, extends the constructibility horizon of the algorithmic applications of the Graph Minors theorem of Robertson and Seymour. The proposed logic can be seen as a general framework to capitalize on the potential of the irrelevant vertex technique. It gives a way to deal with problem instances of unbounded treewidth, for which Courcelle's theorem does not apply. The proof of our meta-theorem combines novel combinatorial results related to the Flat Wall theorem along with elements of the proof of Courcelle's theorem and Gaifman's theorem. We finally prove extensions where the target property is expressible in FOL+DP, i.e., the enhancement of FOL with disjoint-paths predicates