10 research outputs found
On the size of maximally non-hamiltonian digraphs
A graph is called maximally non-hamiltonian if it is non-hamiltonian, yet for any two non-adjacent vertices there exists a hamiltonian path between them. In this paper, we naturally extend the concept to directed graphs and bound their size from below and above. Our results on the lower bound constitute our main contribution, while the upper bound can be obtained using a result of Lewin, but we give here a different proof. We describe digraphs attaining the upper bound, but whether our lower bound can be improved remains open
Planar hypohamiltonian oriented graphs
In 1978 Thomassen asked whether planar hypohamiltonian oriented graphs exist. Infinite families of such graphs have since been described but for infinitely many it remained an open question whether planar hypohamiltonian oriented graphs of order exist. In this paper we develop new methods for constructing hypohamiltonian digraphs, which, combined with efficient graph generation algorithms, enable us to fully characterise the orders for which planar hypohamiltonian oriented graphs exist. Our novel methods also led us to discover the planar hypohamiltonian oriented graph of smallest order and size, as well as infinitely many hypohamiltonian orientations of maximal planar graphs. Furthermore, we answer a question related to a problem of Schiermeyer on vertex degrees in hypohamiltonian oriented graphs, and characterise all the orders for which planar hypotraceable oriented graphs exist.Research Foundation Flanders; VSC(Flemish Supercomputer Center);DSTâNRF Centre of Excellence in Mathematical and Statistical Sciences.http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/jgthj2023Mathematics and Applied Mathematic
Generation and Properties of Snarks
For many of the unsolved problems concerning cycles and matchings in graphs
it is known that it is sufficient to prove them for \emph{snarks}, the class of
nontrivial 3-regular graphs which cannot be 3-edge coloured. In the first part
of this paper we present a new algorithm for generating all non-isomorphic
snarks of a given order. Our implementation of the new algorithm is 14 times
faster than previous programs for generating snarks, and 29 times faster for
generating weak snarks. Using this program we have generated all non-isomorphic
snarks on vertices. Previously lists up to vertices have been
published. In the second part of the paper we analyze the sets of generated
snarks with respect to a number of properties and conjectures. We find that
some of the strongest versions of the cycle double cover conjecture hold for
all snarks of these orders, as does Jaeger's Petersen colouring conjecture,
which in turn implies that Fulkerson's conjecture has no small counterexamples.
In contrast to these positive results we also find counterexamples to eight
previously published conjectures concerning cycle coverings and the general
cycle structure of cubic graphs.Comment: Submitted for publication V2: various corrections V3: Figures updated
and typos corrected. This version differs from the published one in that the
Arxiv-version has data about the automorphisms of snarks; Journal of
Combinatorial Theory. Series B. 201
Hypohamiltonian and almost hypohamiltonian graphs
This Dissertation is structured as follows. In Chapter 1, we give a short historical overview and define fundamental concepts. Chapter 2 contains a clear narrative of the progress made towards finding the smallest planar hypohamiltonian graph, with all of the necessary theoretical tools and techniques--especially Grinberg's Criterion. Consequences of this progress are distributed over all sections and form the leitmotif of this Dissertation. Chapter 2 also treats girth restrictions and hypohamiltonian graphs in the context of crossing numbers. Chapter 3 is a thorough discussion of the newly introduced almost hypohamiltonian graphs and their connection to hypohamiltonian graphs. Once more, the planar case plays an exceptional role. At the end of the chapter, we study almost hypotraceable graphs and Gallai's problem on longest paths. The latter leads to Chapter 4, wherein the connection between hypohamiltonicity and various problems related to longest paths and longest cycles are presented. Chapter 5 introduces and studies non-hamiltonian graphs in which every vertex-deleted subgraph is traceable, a class encompassing hypohamiltonian and hypotraceable graphs. We end with an outlook in Chapter 6, where we present a selection of open problems enriched with comments and partial results
An extensive English language bibliography on graph theory and its applications
Bibliography on graph theory and its application