On some interconnections between combinatorial optimization and extremal graph theory

The uniting feature of combinatorial optimization and extremal graph theory is that in both areas one should find extrema of a function defined in most cases on a finite set. While in combinatorial optimization the point is in developing efficient algorithms and heuristics for solving specified types of problems, the extremal graph theory deals with finding bounds for various graph invariants under some constraints and with constructing extremal graphs. We analyze by examples some interconnections and interactions of the two theories and propose some conclusions

A nonamenable "factor" of a Euclidean space

Answering a question of Benjamini, we present an isometry-invariant random partition of the Euclidean space $\mathbb{R}^d$, $d\geq 3$, into infinite connected indistinguishable pieces, such that the adjacency graph defined on the pieces is the 3-regular infinite tree. Along the way, it is proved that any finitely generated one-ended amenable Cayley graph can be represented in $\mathbb{R}^d$ as an isometry-invariant random partition of $\mathbb{R}^d$ to bounded polyhedra, and also as an isometry-invariant random partition of $\mathbb{R}^d$ to indistinguishable pieces. A new technique is developed to prove indistinguishability for certain constructions, connecting this notion to factor of iid's.Comment: 23 pages, 4 figure

Spectral radius and spanning trees of graphs

For integer $k\geq2,$ a spanning $k$-ended-tree is a spanning tree with at most $k$ leaves. Motivated by the closure theorem of Broersma and Tuinstra [Independence trees and Hamilton cycles, J. Graph Theory 29 (1998) 227--237], we provide tight spectral conditions to guarantee the existence of a spanning $k$-ended-tree in a connected graph of order $n$ with extremal graphs being characterized. Moreover, by adopting Kaneko's theorem [Spanning trees with constraints on the leaf degree, Discrete Appl. Math. 115 (2001) 73--76], we also present tight spectral conditions for the existence of a spanning tree with leaf degree at most $k$ in a connected graph of order $n$ with extremal graphs being determined, where $k\geq1$ is an integer

An improved Belief Propagation algorithm finds many Bethe states in the random field Ising model on random graphs

We first present an empirical study of the Belief Propagation (BP) algorithm, when run on the random field Ising model defined on random regular graphs in the zero temperature limit. We introduce the notion of maximal solutions for the BP equations and we use them to fix a fraction of spins in their ground state configuration. At the phase transition point the fraction of unconstrained spins percolates and their number diverges with the system size. This in turn makes the associated optimization problem highly non trivial in the critical region. Using the bounds on the BP messages provided by the maximal solutions we design a new and very easy to implement BP scheme which is able to output a large number of stable fixed points. On one side this new algorithm is able to provide the minimum energy configuration with high probability in a competitive time. On the other side we found that the number of fixed points of the BP algorithm grows with the system size in the critical region. This unexpected feature poses new relevant questions on the physics of this class of models.Comment: 20 pages, 8 figure

The Disjoint Domination Game

We introduce and study a Maker-Breaker type game in which the issue is to create or avoid two disjoint dominating sets in graphs without isolated vertices. We prove that the maker has a winning strategy on all connected graphs if the game is started by the breaker. This implies the same in the $(2:1)$ biased game also in the maker-start game. It remains open to characterize the maker-win graphs in the maker-start non-biased game, and to analyze the $(a:b)$ biased game for $(a:b)\neq (2:1)$. For a more restricted variant of the non-biased game we prove that the maker can win on every graph without isolated vertices.Comment: 18 page