Ramsey Theory

The Ramsey number $R(r, b)$ is the least positive integer such that every edge 2-coloring of the complete graph $K_{R(r, b)}$ with colors red and blue either embeds a red $K_r$ or a blue $K_b$. We explore various methods to find lower bounds on $R(r,b)$, finding new results on fibrations and semicirculant graphs. Then, generalizing the Ramsey number to graphs other than complete graphs, we flesh out the missing details in the literature on a theorem that completely determines the generalized Ramsey number for cycles

Generalized vertex coloring problems using split graphs

Graph theory experienced a remarkable increase of interest among the scientific community during the last decades. The vertex coloring problem (Min Coloring) deserves a particular attention rince it has been able to capture a wide variety of applications. For mathematicians, it is interesting for an additional reason: it is extremely hard to solve it in an efficient way. In this thesis, we introduce several problems generalizing the usual vertex coloring problem, and hence, extending its application domain. We say that a graph is (p, k)-colorable if its vertex set can be partitioned into p cliques and k stable sets. Then, for a given p (respectively k), one may ask the following questions: how to choose p cliques (respectively k stable sets) to be removed from the graph such that the number of stable sets (respectively cliques) partitioning the remaining vertices is minimized? These are called (p, k)-coloring problems. We also introduce Min Split-coloring which is, given a graph G, the problem of minimizing k such that G is (k, k)-colorable. Along the saine line, given a graph G, the objective of the problem Min Cocoloring is to minimize p + k such that G is (p, k)-colorable. All these problems, called together generalized coloring problems, are obviously at least as difficult as Min Coloring. The purpose of this dissertation is to study generalized coloring problems in nome restricted classes of graphs in order to bring a new insight on the relative difficulties of these problems. To this end, we detect in a more precise way the limits between NP-hard and polynomially solvable problems. Chapter 1 introduces generalized coloring problems by emphasizing nome preliminary results which will guide the questions to handle in the following chapters. Chapter 2 exposes the first clans of graphs, namely cacti, where Min Split-coloring is shown to be polynomially solvable. We also observe that generalized coloring problems can be polynomially solved in triangulated graphs. The main result of Chapter 3 is a new characterization of cographs: it is equivalent to say that G is a cograph, and to state that, for every subgraph G' ⊆ G, G' is (p, k)-colorable if and only if G' [V \ K] is (p – 1, k)-colorable, where K induces a maximum clique of G'. This result implies simple combinatorial algorithme to solve all generalized coloring problems; the one for Min Cocoloring improves the best time complexity known so far. In Chapter 4, we handle the recognition of polar graphs which can be seen as a particular (p, k)-coloring, where p cliques are independent (i.e., not linked at all) and k stable sets form a complete k-partite graph. It is known that the recognition of polar graphs is NP-complete. Here, we determine the first clans of graphs, namely cographs, where the polar graphs can be recognized in polynomial time, more precisely in time O(n log n). We also give a characterization by forbidden subgraphs. In the came manner, we characterize monopolar cographs, i.e., cographs admitting a polar partition with at most one clique or at most one stable set. Chapter 5 is devoted to generalized coloring problems in line graphs. Here, we detect the first classes of graphs, namely line graphs of trees, line graphs of bipartite graphs and line graphs of line-perfect graphs, where generalized coloring problems diverge in terms of NP-hardness. In Chapter 6 we study the approximability of generalized coloring problems in line graphs, in comparability graphs and in general graphs. We derive approximation algorithms with a performance guarantee using both the standard approximation ratio and the differential approximation ratio. We show that both Min Split-coloring and Min Cocoloring are at least as hard as Min Coloring to approximate from the standard approximation ratio point of view, whereas, they admit a polynomial time differential approximation scheme and Min Coloring only a constant differential approximation ratio. We also show that Min Cocoloring reduces to Min Split-coloring in all classes of graphs closed under addition of disjoint cliques and under join of a complete k-partite graph. In Chapter 7, we handle two different applications of Min Split-coloring in permutation graphs. They give birth to a new problem, called Min Threshold-coloring, that we study in the came spirit as the other generalized coloring problems. In the last chapter, we present several open questions arising from this thesis

Approximate Graph Coloring by Semidefinite Programming

We consider the problem of coloring k-colorable graphs with the fewest possible colors. We present a randomized polynomial time algorithm that colors a 3-colorable graph on $n$ vertices with min O(Delta^{1/3} log^{1/2} Delta log n), O(n^{1/4} log^{1/2} n) colors where Delta is the maximum degree of any vertex. Besides giving the best known approximation ratio in terms of n, this marks the first non-trivial approximation result as a function of the maximum degree Delta. This result can be generalized to k-colorable graphs to obtain a coloring using min O(Delta^{1-2/k} log^{1/2} Delta log n), O(n^{1-3/(k+1)} log^{1/2} n) colors. Our results are inspired by the recent work of Goemans and Williamson who used an algorithm for semidefinite optimization problems, which generalize linear programs, to obtain improved approximations for the MAX CUT and MAX 2-SAT problems. An intriguing outcome of our work is a duality relationship established between the value of the optimum solution to our semidefinite program and the Lovasz theta-function. We show lower bounds on the gap between the optimum solution of our semidefinite program and the actual chromatic number; by duality this also demonstrates interesting new facts about the theta-function

Odd solutions to systems of inequalities coming from regular chain groups

Hoffman’s theorem on feasible circulations and Ghouila-Houry’s theorem on feasible tensions are classical results of graph theory. Camion generalized these results to systems of inequalities over regular chain groups. An analogue of Camion’s result is proved in which solutions can be forced to be odd valued. The obtained result also generalizes the results of Pretzel and Youngs as well as Slilaty. It is also shown how Ghouila-Houry’s result can be used to give a new proof of the graph- coloring theorem of Minty and Vitaver

A New Large N Expansion for General Matrix-Tensor Models

We define a new large $N$ limit for general $\text{O}(N)^{R}$ or $\text{U}(N)^{R}$ invariant tensor models, based on an enhanced large $N$ scaling of the coupling constants. The resulting large $N$ expansion is organized in terms of a half-integer associated with Feynman graphs that we call the index. This index has a natural interpretation in terms of the many matrix models embedded in the tensor model. Our new scaling can be shown to be optimal for a wide class of non-melonic interactions, which includes all the maximally single-trace terms. Our construction allows to define a new large $D$ expansion of the sum over diagrams of fixed genus in matrix models with an additional $\text{O}(D)^{r}$ global symmetry. When the interaction is the complete vertex of order $R+1$, we identify in detail the leading order graphs for $R$ a prime number. This slightly surprising condition is equivalent to the complete interaction being maximally single-trace.Comment: 57 pages, 20 figures (additional discussion in Sec. 4.1.1. and additional figure (Fig. 5)

A Generalization of Kochen-Specker Sets Relates Quantum Coloring to Entanglement-Assisted Channel Capacity

We introduce two generalizations of Kochen-Specker (KS) sets: projective KS sets and generalized KS sets. We then use projective KS sets to characterize all graphs for which the chromatic number is strictly larger than the quantum chromatic number. Here, the quantum chromatic number is defined via a nonlocal game based on graph coloring. We further show that from any graph with separation between these two quantities, one can construct a classical channel for which entanglement assistance increases the one-shot zero-error capacity. As an example, we exhibit a new family of classical channels with an exponential increase.Comment: 16 page