A tree-decomposed transfer matrix for computing exact Potts model partition functions for arbitrary graphs, with applications to planar graph colourings

Combining tree decomposition and transfer matrix techniques provides a very general algorithm for computing exact partition functions of statistical models defined on arbitrary graphs. The algorithm is particularly efficient in the case of planar graphs. We illustrate it by computing the Potts model partition functions and chromatic polynomials (the number of proper vertex colourings using Q colours) for large samples of random planar graphs with up to N=100 vertices. In the latter case, our algorithm yields a sub-exponential average running time of ~ exp(1.516 sqrt(N)), a substantial improvement over the exponential running time ~ exp(0.245 N) provided by the hitherto best known algorithm. We study the statistics of chromatic roots of random planar graphs in some detail, comparing the findings with results for finite pieces of a regular lattice.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures. Version 2 has been substantially expanded. Version 3 shows that the worst-case running time is sub-exponential in the number of vertice

Sabidussi Versus Hedetniemi for Three Variations of the Chromatic Number

We investigate vector chromatic number, Lovasz theta of the complement, and quantum chromatic number from the perspective of graph homomorphisms. We prove an analog of Sabidussi's theorem for each of these parameters, i.e. that for each of the parameters, the value on the Cartesian product of graphs is equal to the maximum of the values on the factors. We also prove an analog of Hedetniemi's conjecture for Lovasz theta of the complement, i.e. that its value on the categorical product of graphs is equal to the minimum of its values on the factors. We conjecture that the analogous results hold for vector and quantum chromatic number, and we prove that this is the case for some special classes of graphs.Comment: 18 page

Zeros of the Potts Model Partition Function on Sierpinski Graphs

We calculate zeros of the $q$-state Potts model partition function on $m$'th-iterate Sierpinski graphs, $S_m$, in the variable $q$ and in a temperature-like variable, $y$. We infer some asymptotic properties of the loci of zeros in the limit $m \to \infty$ and relate these to thermodynamic properties of the $q$-state Potts ferromagnet and antiferromagnet on the Sierpinski gasket fractal, $S_\infty$.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figure