On the phase transitions of graph coloring and independent sets

We study combinatorial indicators related to the characteristic phase transitions associated with coloring a graph optimally and finding a maximum independent set. In particular, we investigate the role of the acyclic orientations of the graph in the hardness of finding the graph's chromatic number and independence number. We provide empirical evidence that, along a sequence of increasingly denser random graphs, the fraction of acyclic orientations that are `shortest' peaks when the chromatic number increases, and that such maxima tend to coincide with locally easiest instances of the problem. Similar evidence is provided concerning the `widest' acyclic orientations and the independence number

Vectorial solutions to list multicoloring problems on graphs

For a graph $G$ with a given list assignment $L$ on the vertices, we give an algebraical description of the set of all weights $w$ such that $G$ is $(L,w)$-colorable, called permissible weights. Moreover, for a graph $G$ with a given list $L$ and a given permissible weight $w$, we describe the set of all $(L,w)$-colorings of $G$. By the way, we solve the {\sl channel assignment problem}. Furthermore, we describe the set of solutions to the {\sl on call problem}: when $w$ is not a permissible weight, we find all the nearest permissible weights $w'$. Finally, we give a solution to the non-recoloring problem keeping a given subcoloring.Comment: 10 page

A polyhedral approach for the Equitable Coloring Problem

In this work we study the polytope associated with a 0,1-integer programming formulation for the Equitable Coloring Problem. We find several families of valid inequalities and derive sufficient conditions in order to be facet-defining inequalities. We also present computational evidence that shows the efficacy of these inequalities used in a cutting-plane algorithm