Track Layouts of Graphs

A \emph{$(k,t)$-track layout} of a graph $G$ consists of a (proper) vertex $t$-colouring of $G$, a total order of each vertex colour class, and a (non-proper) edge $k$-colouring such that between each pair of colour classes no two monochromatic edges cross. This structure has recently arisen in the study of three-dimensional graph drawings. This paper presents the beginnings of a theory of track layouts. First we determine the maximum number of edges in a $(k,t)$-track layout, and show how to colour the edges given fixed linear orderings of the vertex colour classes. We then describe methods for the manipulation of track layouts. For example, we show how to decrease the number of edge colours in a track layout at the expense of increasing the number of tracks, and vice versa. We then study the relationship between track layouts and other models of graph layout, namely stack and queue layouts, and geometric thickness. One of our principle results is that the queue-number and track-number of a graph are tied, in the sense that one is bounded by a function of the other. As corollaries we prove that acyclic chromatic number is bounded by both queue-number and stack-number. Finally we consider track layouts of planar graphs. While it is an open problem whether planar graphs have bounded track-number, we prove bounds on the track-number of outerplanar graphs, and give the best known lower bound on the track-number of planar graphs.Comment: The paper is submitted for publication. Preliminary draft appeared as Technical Report TR-2003-07, School of Computer Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canad

Continuum spin foam model for 3d gravity

An example illustrating a continuum spin foam framework is presented. This covariant framework induces the kinematics of canonical loop quantization, and its dynamics is generated by a {\em renormalized} sum over colored polyhedra. Physically the example corresponds to 3d gravity with cosmological constant. Starting from a kinematical structure that accommodates local degrees of freedom and does not involve the choice of any background structure (e. g. triangulation), the dynamics reduces the field theory to have only global degrees of freedom. The result is {\em projectively} equivalent to the Turaev-Viro model.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

Grad and classes with bounded expansion I. decompositions

We introduce classes of graphs with bounded expansion as a generalization of both proper minor closed classes and degree bounded classes. Such classes are based on a new invariant, the greatest reduced average density (grad) of G with rank r, grad r(G). For these classes we prove the existence of several partition results such as the existence of low tree-width and low tree-depth colorings. This generalizes and simplifies several earlier results (obtained for minor closed classes)

Monochromatic spanning trees and matchings in ordered complete graphs

Two independent edges in ordered graphs can be nested, crossing or separated. These relations define six types of subgraphs, depending on which relations are forbidden. We refine a remark by Erd\H{o}s and Rado that every 2-coloring of the edges of a complete graph contains a monochromatic spanning tree. We show that forbidding one relation we always have a monochromatic (non-nested, non-crossing, non-separated) spanning tree in a 2-edge-colored ordered complete graph. On the other hand, if two relations are forbidden, then it is possible that we have monochromatic (nested, separated, crossing) subtrees of size only half the number of vertices. The existence of a monochromatic non-nested spanning tree in 2-colorings of ordered complete graphs verifies a more general conjecture for twisted drawings. Our second subject is to refine the Ramsey number of matchings for ordered complete graphs. Cockayne and Lorimer proved that for given positive integers t, n, m=(t-1)(n-1)+2n is the smallest integer with the following property: every t-coloring of the edges of a complete graph Km contains a monochromatic matching with n edges. We conjecture a strengthening: t-colored ordered complete graphs on m vertices contain monochromatic non-nested and also non-separated matchings with n edges. We prove this conjecture for some special cases. (i) Every t-colored ordered complete graph on t+3 vertices contains a monochromatic non-nested matching of size two. (ii) Every 2-colored ordered complete graph on 3n-1 vertices contains a monochromatic non-separated matching of size n. For nested, separated, and crossing matchings the situation is different. The smallest m ensuring a monochromatic matching of size n in every t-coloring is 2(t(n-1))+1) in the first two cases and one less in the third case